Bent to sit out Hammers clash

21 September 2010 10:00
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is tempted to wrap star striker Darren Bent in cotton wool as he looks to prosper on two fronts. Bruce will hand record signing Asamoah Gyan a first start for the club in Tuesday's Carling Cup third-round clash with West Ham at the Stadium of Light. However, whether that will come alongside leading scorer Bent, who took his tally for the new campaign to six for club and country with a late leveller against Arsenal on Saturday, remains to be seen. "I don't think it's a rest - cotton wool comes to mind," said Bruce. "Make no mistake, we have some people who need games - Bolo Zenden, for instance, is one, Asamoah Gyan is another, it might be a game to have a look at young Jack Colback - those type of people need a game. "Darren wants to play in every game, but you want him playing against Manchester United and Liverpool. That's my fear, not resting him at this particular moment. "He wants to be involved in every game, he wants to be involved and score a goal, that's Darren."

Source: PA