Source: Northern_Echo
Mensah targeting a return
STEVE BRUCE could be boosted by the return of John Mensah for this weekend's game with Bolton, but the Sunderland boss admits he won't rush the defender back should there be any doubt over his fitness.[LNB] Mensah hasn't featured since the home defeat to West Brom at the beginning of last month after suffering an adductor tear but the centreback has began training again in the last week.[LNB] If the Ghanaian does return, it will be huge boost for Bruce, who has been without regular centre-back Titus Bramble, after he suffered a cartilage injury in the wake of the defeat to Liverpool.[LNB] Mensah arrived on Wearside at the start of last season on a loan deal from French side Lyon but the 28-year-old endured an injury-hit campaign, playing just 16 games.[LNB] Despite his injuries, Mensah did enough to persuade Bruce to resign him on another season-long loan but again his season has been hampered by injury.[LNB] We'll look to give him a full week's training this week and take it from there, said the Black Cats boss.[LNB] Bruce is also monitoring the fitness of midfielders Lee Cattermole and Jordan Henderson, who suffered knocks in the weekend defeat to Fulham.[LNB] The Black Cats have suffered a worrying shortage of strikers in the last few weeks after Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan broke down in the home win over Wigan two weeks ago.[LNB] Now, Bruce faces a midfield crisis with Cattermole and Henderson both doubts for his side's trip to the Reebok.[LNB] The Black Cats captain has been hampered by a back injury for most of the season and he appeared to be struggling in the final stages of Saturday's defeat with an injury.[LNB] Bruce was forced to play Stephane Sessegnon and Steed Malbranque in more advanced roles at the weekend, while fellow midfielder Kieran Richardson is also a doubt.[LNB] The 26-year-old been missing since the defeat to West Brom with a hamstring problem and despite edging closer to a return, his is still rated as having an outside chance for the weekend.[LNB] With the Premier League season drawing to a close, Bruce is hoping his squad can get through their remaining three matches without any further injuries and admits he had never had to deal with such a long injury list before.[LNB] Bruce added: We're doing everything we possibly can.[LNB] I've managed more than 500 games and I've never seen anything like this.[LNB] Sunderland's Under-18 side clinched the Group D title in the Premier Academy League with a 0-0 draw against Leeds United at the Academy of Light. Despite a gruelling few weeks, which included eight games in 18 days, the young Black Cats secured their fourth title in five seasons.[LNB]
