Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce praises his key Wearside performers
STEVE Bruce claims Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson are locked in a head-to-head battle for Sunderland's Player of the Season award.[LNB] While Darren Bent was a unanimous choice for last season's gong, this year's annual end-of-season poll promises to be a much tighter affair.[LNB] Bardsley has made the left-back spot his own since switching flanks in late September, and has emerged as a real fans' favourite since signing a new three-and-a-half year deal in November.[LNB] Bruce has been delighted with the Scotland international's performances this season, but expects Richardson to push him close for the end-of-year honours.[LNB] The former Manchester United midfielder has scored four goals in Sunderland's last four matches, and impressed in an attacking midfield role despite having started the season at full-back.[LNB] "Phil and Kieran for me have been our best players this season," said Bruce. "The best thing about Kieran, especially for a manager, is his versatility.[LNB] "He's gone from left-back to playing off the front, to playing in the middle of midfield, wide left, I've even played him wide right against Chelsea.[LNB] "He's had a wonderful, wonderful season and he's a managers dream - he comes in, he trains, he plays. He's one of those who could play anywhere, but he does enjoy playing off the front in this system. He's done very well there."[LNB] Richardson's future was the subject of considerable conjecture last summer, but the England international has subsequently emerged as one of the key members of the Black Cats squad.[LNB] The same can be said of Bardsley, who would almost certainly have left the Stadium of Light in the close season had another Premier League club come in for his services.[LNB] "The biggest compliment I can pay Phil is to talk about what he did last summer," said Bruce. "He only had two weeks off, then went to work on his physical capabilities. He came back like a different player.[LNB] "If someone asked me who our Player of the Year was, he would have to be in and around it because of the consistency hes shown.[LNB] "You only have to look at the way he performed for Scotland (against Northern Ireland) last week, he was only on for 50 minutes and he got man of the match. He's playing very, very well at the moment."[LNB] Bardsley was unable to prevent his side slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham, but in the wake of Saturday's game, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was quick to defend his opposite number Bruce after Fabio Capello branded Sunderland a direct team.[LNB] Capello made the comments in relation to Darren Bent's alleged improvement since joining Aston Villa, but Redknapp said: "Were they direct No, I thought they started with good movement and they interchanged well.[LNB] "It was difficult picking them up really because (Stephane) Sessegnon was in off the line, Richardson was playing in behind, they got bodies in midfield and had a good opening spell when they played well."[LNB] Sulley Muntari, one of Redknapp's old guard at Portsmouth, made his home debut for Sunderland, and the Spurs manager revealed he encouraged Bruce to bring the Ghana international to Wearside.[LNB] "I took Sulley to Portsmouth and he did great for me," he said. "Steve asked me about taking him on loan and I said, 'Go for it, he's a great player'."[LNB] * Sunderland midfielder Robbie Weir has joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[LNB]
