Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Black Cats lose injured Turner

09 Sep 2010 - 16:10:53

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has ruled Michael Turner out of Saturday's trip to Wigan Athletic.

The centre-half will return to the sidelines with an ankle problem that has prevented him from training during the international break.

Turner missed the first two games of the new Premier League season through suspension but did return for the 1-0 victory over Manchester City before the international window.

"Michael won't be available and we expect him to be out for a little while yet," said Bruce.

However, the Black Cats boss has confirmed that Titus Bramble, John Mensah, Anton Ferdinand and Paulo Da Silva are all fully fit and will compete for the two starting positions at the heart of the defence for the trip to the DW Stadium.

Ferdinand had looked to have played his last game for the Wearside club following a training ground bust-up with Bruce last month.

"He's back in the frame," Bruce told the Northern Echo.

"Sometimes you have a row at work, it happens. But the one thing I'll never do is bear a grudge.

"We pay his wages, he came back into the team and played very well so he'll be in contention for Wigan.

"He's still got a future here because he's our player. He's not gone anywhere and if and when he's required, he'll play."