Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping chairman Niall Quinn can make a breakthrough in the transfer market after striker Fraizer Campbell was sidelined by a potentially serious injury.
Bruce, who was already desperate to bring in a replacement for Kenwyne Jones during the remaining days of the transfer window, saw his need increase markedly when the former Manchester United youngster suffered suspected knee ligament damage in a clash with Micah Richards shortly before half-time in his side's 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Bruce said: "It's imperative, the chairman knows that. It was imperative before we started, so if we are going to lose Fraizer for a few months, then we have got to try to act if we possibly can."
Bruce is also an admirer of £9million-rated midfielder Charles N'Zogbia, with whom he worked at Wigan.
"I am a big admirer of Charles. That sort of money is a lot of money, but we will see, we will see whether we have got it. I'm a big admirer of him, but that sort of money might be too rich."
Whatever happens over the next couple of days, Bruce will at least be able to reflect upon a hugely creditable performance against big-spending City.
The decisive action came deep into injury-time when Darren Bent was felled by Richards as he attempted to meet Ahmed Elmohamady's cross in front of goal.
It was no more than the Black Cats deserved after a fine second-half fightback, although they were grateful to Carlos Tevez for a glaring first-half miss and keeper Simon Mignolet for a superb reaction save from substitute Emmanuel Adebayor.
City boss Roberto Mancini said: "We had the chance with Carlos, but we had another three or four situations where we could have scored a goal in the first half.
"But that's football. If you don't score a goal when you have these situations, maybe you can lose because every game is difficult and you must play until the last second."
Source: PA
