Source: Northern_Echo
Brown ready for second start with Sunderland
IN footballing terms, May 1998 seems like an eternity ago.[LNB] Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions, the likes of Leicester, Wimbledon and Barnsley were in the top-flight, and Swansea finished 20th in what is now League Two. Oh, and Wes Brown made the first debut of his career.[LNB] This afternoon, he makes his second, turning out in the red-and-white of Sunderland rather than the all red of his hometown club Manchester United.[LNB] A lot has happened in the intervening 13 years, and while the excitement and nerves will return as Brown prepares to kick off at Anfield, the circumstances of his maiden appearance for the Black Cats could hardly be more different to his professional bow for Manchester United.[LNB] No longer the fresh-faced teenager that was a substitute against Leeds, 31-year-old Brown is now a five-time Premier League champion and two-time Champions League winner.[LNB] Little wonder Steve Bruce was so desperate to recruit him this summer to add some much-needed experience to a squad that was the youngest in the top-flight last term.[LNB] "I remember my United debut very well," said Brown, who is expected to partner Titus Bramble at centre-half this afternoon in the absence of the injured John O'Shea. "The day before, Gary Pallister told me I would be playing.[LNB] "We had already lost the league, but in the end, the manager changed things and I didn't start after all but came on as sub.[LNB] "I didn't sleep the whole night ahead of it. It was nerves and excitement, a mixture of both, although probably more nerves.[LNB] "It's very different circumstances for me now. It's two very different teams and two very different times in my career, but my attitude has always stayed the same and hopefully I can bring that to the club and the team."[LNB] Despite turning 30 more than a year-and-a-half ago, Brown was never really considered one of the more experienced players at Old Trafford.[LNB] In part, that was a reflection of his failure to command a regular place in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting XI, despite more than 230 senior appearances in United colours.[LNB] However, it was also a result of the quality that was around him, with so many world-class stars vying for attention and influence.[LNB] With the greatest of respect to the players at Sunderland, there is not such a concentration of talent at the Stadium of Light, and so instead of being a small fish in a big pond, Brown now finds himself as one of the most high-profile players in the Black Cats squad.[LNB] "There are a lot of young lads in this squad," said the defender. "I was one of the oldest at United so I'm quite used to having younger team-mates around me, but it didn't really seem like that there.[LNB] "Hopefully, my experience will help. I do a lot of talking on the pitch anyway. You won't see me shouting, ranting and raving, but I've always been a talker on the pitch and we've done a fair bit of that in pre-season. Mind you, I'm not necessarily going to do a Roy Keane and start bollocking them."[LNB] While Keane has severed his Sunderland links, there are still plenty of Manchester United connections at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] Manager Steve Bruce won three league titles at Old Trafford, while Phil Bardsley, Kieran Richardson and Fraizer Campbell all swapped Salford for Sunderland prior to Brown and O'Shea making their moves this summer.[LNB] As a result, there is likely to be a lively atmosphere at Anfield today, even before Jordan Henderson's Liverpool debut is factored into the equation.[LNB] "It's always good playing there," said Brown. "Liverpool are a great club. It will be difficult because they are at home first game and will be fired up.[LNB] "The pressure will be on them, although it is on us as well because we have to do well too. We have got to go out there and try to win the game although we know it will be difficult.[LNB] "I'm sure I'll get a few Manc shouts. You don't really hear what they are saying, but you know it is going on. You are focused on your game, but it drives you forward. The manager will no doubt get a bit as well.[LNB] "I'll definitely be getting some stick from their fans, but I like that. It just drives me on. Some players take it in different ways but, for me, it just gets me going. The more I get, the better. It makes you play harder."[LNB]
