Squad players impress Bruce

25 August 2009 15:14
Steve Bruce feels his Sunderland squad have all "come to the party" as they maintained a positive start to the new season with a 4-1 Carling Cup win at League One Norwich. The Black Cats made nine changes from the team which beat Blackburn at the weekend, but it did not matter as Teemu Tainio set the ball rolling for the Barclays Premier League club before Andy Reid added a brace before half-time. The Canaries had their say after the break with Wes Hoolahan reducing the deficit only for Owain Tudur Jones to deflect a corner into his own net. "All of the lads have come to the party in some way or another and asked a few questions," said Bruce, who revealed striker Fraizer Campbell had suffered no worrying injuries from his clash with goalkeeper Ben Alnwick after he was fouled by Michael Spillane, who immediately saw red. "We made some changes, and it was good to see the ones who needed a game. "I can only play 11, but you could see there are five or six knocking on the door, big style." Sunderland hope to secure the season-long loan signing of Lyon defender John Mensah, and are also closing in on highly-rated 21-year-old Egyptian Ahmed Al-Muhammadi. "John Mensah is waiting just for his visa to be stamped, and we hope to be able to bring him to the club in the next few days," said Bruce.

Source: Eurosport