Source: Northern_Echo
Mensah impressed with new additions
JOHN Mensah played his first full match for Sunderland on Saturday, and is impressed with what he has witnessed so far on his return to Wearside.[LNB] The Ghana international signed terms on a second season-long loan on Thursday evening and was thrown straight into Steve Bruce's starting XI against Birmingham City.[LNB] The centre-half had to quickly acquaint himself with an almost-unrecognisable defence, with only Kieran Richardson surviving from the backline since Mensah's last spell and featuring debutants Simon Mignolet, Nedum Onuoha and Titus Bramble.[LNB] Mensah said: I have only been back a few days, but you can tell that some really talented players have been added to the squad.[LNB] And because it was already a young squad, the players who were already here are better for last season's experience in the Premier League.[LNB] I am so happy to be back and be a part of it because I love the idea that the club is going forward the way that it is.[LNB] Despite not featuring in a match since the Black Stars' World Cup quarter-final defeat to Uruguay in Johannesburg, the 27-year-old played his first full 90 minutes for Sunderland on Saturday.[LNB] Mensah's injury problems have been such that he needed his own physio in South Africa, who he hopes will link up with him on Wearside in a bid to improve on last season, which saw him play just 17 games for Sunderland.[LNB] We are looking to reach an arrangement where he will still be involved in my health and fitness, though the physio's team at Sunderland will be taking care of me too and I appreciate the work they do with me,'' he said.[LNB] I was feeling tired towards the end of the game, but that is only natural because I have played no football really since the end of the World Cup.[LNB] But I'm looking forward to playing more games for Sunderland this season and helping them progress.[LNB] Sunderland last night appeared no nearer to the departures of George McCartney and Anton Ferdinand to Birmingham and either Palermo or Fiorentina respectively, while Bruce has continued to be linked with Mensah's Ghana team-mate Asamoah Gyan.[LNB] Sunderland's Carling Cup second-round tie against Colchester United will be played next Tuesday at 7.45pm. Advance-purchase tickets are £10 adults and £5 under- 16s and over-65s. Tickets bought on the day are £15 adults and £10 concessions.[LNB]
