Source: Northern_Echo
Christmas fixtures a culture shock for Gyan
ASAMOAH GYAN admitted he was lonely this Christmas but his goal against Blackburn Rovers proved to be a real winter warmer.[LNB] Gyan, a £13m signing from Rennes, has never played over the Christmas period, and conceded he was more accustomed to the continental way of life with winter breaks. A packed festive schedule was a real culture shock for the striker.[LNB] Gyan said: I'm not used to playing every two days. I've been alone during Christmas every year before now I'd gone to Ghana and saw my family but this year I haven't been able to.[LNB] It's something strange to me, but now I'm in England and I'll get used to it.[LNB] Gyan was a 79th minute replacement for Darren Bent after being left on the bench as his manager Steve Bruce conceded that the build-up of games came as a surprise to his enigmatic striker.[LNB] Bruce said: He is finding it hard to adapt. His family are in Ghana and I think he was expecting a break. He didn't think the Premier League played in the winter.[LNB] He is not playing for a manager who will not drop him. I had a decision to make today, but Gyan was stiff and sore, he has never played two in three days before, he finds that ludicrous. So my decision was made for me.[LNB] Gyan managed to do what he failed to do last week against Blackpool score, with his only chance of his ten-minute cameo. It was a goal which came as a great relief to the striker.[LNB] Gyan said: I'm really happy with the goal, because I haven't scored in a while, and with the chances we created against Blackpool it was frustrating we didn't score.[LNB] We just had to keep our composure and do our best to win games.[LNB] Jordan (Henderson) gave me the ball and I was just trying to tease the defender. I saw (David) Meyler going through but I just thought I have to be myself. Sometimes as an attacker you have to be selfish and you have to take responsibility, so I decided to shoot and I got it.[LNB] Such selfishness in front of goal is, after all, a striker's prerogative, but it is one his manager will gain plenty of grey hairs over.[LNB] Bruce said: He will drive me nuts. But he has got that touch of the unexpected about him which he showed.[LNB] Sunderland travel to Aston Villa tomorrow, and with both Bent and Danny Welbeck picking up slight knocks against Blackburn, Gyan may be in line for a start.[LNB] He said: I don't know how we'll line up. I'm here to make sure Sunderland go places, and it doesn't matter if I'm on the bench or not. I just need to keep focused and make sure Sunderland win.[LNB] Meanwhile, Sunderland's on-loan defender Nyron Nosworthy has apologised to Sheffield United supporters after a section of fans ironically cheered his half-time replacement during the Blades' 4-2 defeat at Turf Moor.[LNB] Nosworthy had been singled out for abuse after playing a part in two of Burnley's goals and, as he was walking down the tunnel, made a single- finger gesture at a fan.[LNB] Nosworthy, who is on a season- long loan at Bramall Lane, said: It was poor by my standards and I say sorry to all the fans if they felt that it showed that I don't care that's the last thing I feel. I care a lot.[LNB]
