Steve Bruce demands answers from Sunderland medical team over crippling injury list

11 April 2011 16:13
Exasperated Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is to launch an inquiry into why so many of his players break down in games.[LNB]The Black Cats have been severely hampered in recent weeks by having to make early substitutions which have disrupted the plans on which they have worked on the training pitch.[LNB]Lee Cattermole and Kieran Richardson had both limped off by the time 23 minutes of the 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool on March 20 had elapsed, while both John Mensah and Richardson again failed to last beyond the half-time whistle on Saturday as West Brom won 3-2 at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] Stricken: Lee Cattermole is one of a number of players to suffer with continual niggles that rule him out of games[LNB]Bruce has repeatedly insisted he does not want to make injuries an excuse for the club's disastrous run of form, which has seen them collect just a single point from their last eight Barclays Premier League games.[LNB]However, he is concerned at the regularity with which he is having to make early substitutions.[LNB]Bruce said: 'It isn't happening on the training ground, it happens out there all the time in the match. It's something we will have to analyse. It is not a coincidence. We have had five operations and all five of them have broken down, so it is hampering us.[LNB]Can't look: Sunderland have picked up a miserable one point from a possible 24[LNB]'I am not trying to blame anybody - I will take the blame - but we will have to look into it as to the reason why it keeps recurring like it is at the moment.'[LNB]Bruce's team on Saturday included two men - defender Michael Turner and striker Danny Welbeck - who have just returned from long-term knee injuries, while Fraizer Campbell is close to doing the same.[LNB]However, Titus Bramble is struggling to play again this season because of a cartilage problem and keeper Craig Gordon is currently fit enough only to sit on the bench as he continues with a specially-designed programme designed to help him avoid knee surgery.[LNB]In addition, midfielder David Meyler has managed only five appearances this season because of serious knee injuries, making Bruce's concern understandable.[LNB]He said: 'It's been particularly frustrating from the offset, really, that we have had big trauma injuries to big players of ours.[LNB]'Unfortunately in the end, it does catch up with you. You can maybe get away with it for a couple of weeks, but when you are talking months like Michael Turner and Fraizer Campbell and David Meyler and Danny Welbeck...[LNB]'Everywhere I look, people have missed three and four months, which has been far, far too many, and that's why I have got to ask now why, why is it us? We will try to get to the bottom of that, if I can.'[LNB] Hurry back: Danny Welbeck should relieve some pressure as he finds full fitness[LNB]Sunderland's woes have been compounded by a slide from the fringes of the race for Europe to 13th place, where they remain vulnerable to an attack from the sides below them desperately fighting the pull of a relegation zone.[LNB]The Black Cats are six points clear of trouble with six games left to play, but head for Bruce's former club Birmingham on Saturday knowing a continuation of their recent form could prove disastrous.[LNB]However, their remaining fixtures include clashes with the Blues, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham, who are all worse off, and their fate remains within their own hands.[LNB] Pure delight: West Bromwich Albion's Paul Scharner nabbed a late winner at the Stadium of Light[LNB]Saturday's defeat by the Baggies, a game in which they twice led, did not go down well on Wearside, although Bruce continues to enjoy the support of owner Ellis Short and chairman Niall Quinn.[LNB]But fans who were more than dismayed at Darren Bent's ?24million for Aston Villa in January have started to voice their disapproval at a run which has seen the club win just once in the nine games since.[LNB] Roy's Baggies are bouncing while Bruce's Black Cats use their nine livesOut-of-form Sunderland midfielder Henderson faces the axeSunderland boss Bruce sympathises with banned bad boy RooneyAll the latest Sunderland news, features and opinion[LNB]  Explore more:People: Michael Turner, Darren Bent, Steve Bruce, Danny Welbeck, Lee Cattermole, Titus Bramble, Niall Quinn, Craig Gordon Places: Birmingham, Liverpool, Europe

Source: Daily_Mail