Source: Northern_Echo
Ferdinand aims to seize chance to prove his worth
IF there has ever been a time for Anton Ferdinand to grasp the opportunity to prove he is worthy of figuring more prominently in Steve Bruce's long-term plans, this is it.[LNB] With Michael Turner and Titus Bramble both ruled out for seven weeks at least, Bruce knows his alternatives will need to fill in at the heart of his defence for some time.[LNB] Having witnessed Wolves make the most of some poor defending last weekend, Ferdinand knows that collectively the Sunderland defence need to improve for tomorrow's visit of his old club West Ham United.[LNB] Bruce, who has often outlined the need for Ferdinand to improve his concentration if he wants to stay in the team, gave the player another chance to stay at the club after a much-publicised row earlier in the year.[LNB] The 25-year-old, linked with a January move to Bari having been linked with Palermo and Fiorentina in the past, is keen to shine in an attempt to stay in the North-East.[LNB] It's been a bit of an up and down season for me. At the start I didn't know whether I was coming or going, he said.[LNB] I've said it before: my thought process was that I was never going to leave this club.[LNB] I was making sure I was fit for the start of the season, then I had the hamstring injury and I had a bust-up with the manager, an argument.[LNB] Then we sorted out our differences.[LNB] You can see in my body language when I play for the club I want to be here. I do see my future here. As long as I'm playing, that's how it'll be.[LNB] The club have to make the first decision and I don't have to do anything until or if that happens. I just want to get on with staying here and keeping my head down.[LNB] I owe this club a lot. I'm not thinking about that, just about the next game on Sunday, then the weekend after that. What might happen in January hasn't even entered my mind.[LNB] Ferdinand regularly chats with his elder brother Rio, the Manchester United captain, seeking advice and comments on his performances in a bid to improve. However, he feels he has the ability to succeed in his own right.[LNB] There's no point having somebody of that stature on the other end of the phone if you're not going to use them,[LNB] he said. All the things I've said to you come from his mouth as well keep working hard, don't think about anything apart from the next game.[LNB] I know that I haven't done well enough due to lack of games. Last season, I didn't play a lot, this season I haven't really played a lot, but hopefully I'll get a run of games now so I can show my worth to the manager.[LNB] I've been Rio's little brother since I stepped into West Ham's School of Excellence, aged nine. I've gone to take a throw in and heard people standing on the sidelines when I was nine or ten saying ah, he'll never be as good as his brother.' So it's not that things are new to me.[LNB] He's there for a reason, not only as a footballing influence, but as a big brother to me. I'm sure if you spoke to him you'd get the same vibe.[LNB] He wants me to do as well as him, if not better. That's the way we are. I'm very proud of him and very happy I can go to him for advice.[LNB] Before joining Sunderland in August 2008, Ferdinand spent six years as a professional at West Ham, where he graduated through the ranks after joining as a schoolboy.[LNB] Having also watched Rio emerge, Ferdinand still has an affinity with the club he also grew up supporting, so he hopes to see Avram Grant lead them off the foot of the Premier League.[LNB] It's a club that deserves it's place in the Premier League, with the history it's got, the fans, the players it produces for England, said Ferdinand.[LNB] I know that the team that went down had the likes of Di Canio, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Les Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, and I know you can never be too good' to go down, but with the players they've got I can't see it happening.[LNB]
