Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce pins his faith in starlets
SUNDERLAND starlets Jordan Henderson and David Meyler will be tied to fiveyear deals as Steve Bruce signals his intention to build next season's squad around the club's emerging talent.[LNB] The Black Cats boss, who tipped Henderson for international honours, has also turned down bids for striker Martyn Waghorn and playmaker Jack Colback, from Leicester and Ipswich respectively, after they earned rave reviews while on loan with the Championship clubs.[LNB] Bruce will recall them when their loan deals expire in May and expects them to be challenging for a first team place next season.[LNB] The manager's faith in the Academy products will allow him to keep his summer recruitment to a minimum, with only two or three new faces expected to join the club.[LNB] Bruce admitted he retains an interest in Shalke striker Kevin Kuranyi but laughed off reports he was set to bid £15m for Udinese winger Simone Pepe, preferring to earmark the likes of Henderson and Meyler as players who can help establish the club in the Premier League's top ten.[LNB] Both youngsters are expected to start at West Ham this afternoon as Sunderland attempt to secure only their second away victory of the campaign.[LNB] What we've got here is a nucleus of very good young players, which as manager you are delighted with, said Bruce, who hailed the progress made by Henderson and Meyler in the latter part of the season.[LNB] If you had seen Meyler five months ago in Hetton you would have thought, who is that mad Irishman' He has matured a little bit.[LNB] He was a little bit too exuberant, racing round the reserve games, but he has great heart and he wants to improve, so good luck to him He was totally disappointed at Portsmouth when he was sent off.[LNB] But he took his chance and played fantastically at home and we are opening negotiations with him and Jordan.[LNB] Bruce is a great admirer of Henderson, handing the Sunderland- born midfielder a new four year deal in January.[LNB] But after becoming a regular in the side the 19-year-old will be tied to an improved fiveyear contract to prevent him being poached by Premier League rivals.[LNB] Jordan potentially is a very, very good young player who keeps learning. He has had a good grounding and is not one of these ... he is levelheaded and the phone didn't stop all summer from other clubs after he did really well at Coventry on loan.[LNB] When I came in he caught my eye straight away out of everybody. He has got to be in with chance of international recognition.[LNB] He is only 19 and to play a full year in the Premier League takes some doing.[LNB] Both are close to five-year deals. There is nothing better than a dressing room with a bunch of good young kids.[LNB] It is compliment to (academy director) Jed McNamee and the Academy. Jordan and Meyler are desperate to do well. Both of them are checking out the stats on a Monday morning for tackling and distances covered and it is a competition between the two of them and, to be fair to Meyler, he is taking them on.[LNB] Waghorn is a crowd favourite at Leicester which is a big club and a feat in itself and he has done remarkably well. And Jack, they are delighted at Ipswich with him and both clubs want to try and keep them but they will both come back and be part of the squad next season.[LNB] While the club's homegrown talent look forward to a bright future experienced winger Andy Reid will not play again this season and could face surgery on his calf.[LNB] The Republic of Ireland international has not figured since the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth in February and has failed in his latest bid to prove his fitness.[LNB] Bruce explained: He trained Monday, Tuesday and had horrible recurrence of his calf problem. He is distraught.[LNB] He'll probably go see specialist and hope it is rest needed rather than an operation because it has been long time it keeps recurring whether he needs operation we don't know yet but it is disappointment because he has been fantastic for me.[LNB] Sunderland's trip to Hull City has been announced as a sell out for travelling supporters.[LNB]
