Source: Telegraph
Sunderland's Darren Bent 'not distracted' by alleged racial abuse, says Steve Bruce
Bruce, whose side face Fulham in the Premier League later today, has held talks with the striker after his nine-goal leading said "he won't stand" for the type of behaviour that his mother, Shirley, reportedly endured. [LNB]"I called him in and I spoke to him," Bruce told reporters. "The one thing with Darren is he is very level-headed. He understood it was unsavoury but he also knew it was completely isolated. [LNB] Related ArticlesSteve Bruce: England will draw FranceFulham v Sunderland: match previewSteve Bruce warns 'inept' SunderlandLorik Cana: Sunderland need consistencyMan arrested over Bent claimPremier League set for record transfer window"It is one moron out of 5,000 people. He is bright enough and sensible enough to understand that. Somebody tried to unsettle him and 5,000 people were ready to back him up. He is okay, it won't bother him and I don't think it will be a problem for his mam as well. She realises it was isolated. " [LNB]A 26-year-old man from Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, has been arrested by police and bailed following the alleged racist abuse in a Wigan pub following Sunderland's 1-0 defeat at the DW Stadium last weekend. [LNB]Bruce continued: "Darren has settled so well and we have helped him settle. It is important that is not forgotten. [LNB]"With the way the club has handled it and the way the police have handled it, I don't think there will be a problem. He is fine. It was one idiot." [LNB]Meanwhile, Bent's team-mate, Kenwyne Jones, has backed the former Tottenham striker to win a place in England head coach Fabio Capello's squad that will challenge for the World Cup in South Africa. [LNB]The Trinidad & Tobago international, who played against England at the 2006 World Cup finals, said: "He can only make his case stronger by doing what he's doing week in, week out. [LNB]"If he does all of that, the rest is left up to the manager and whoever is selecting the squad, but I think he is putting up a very good case and I hope he continues to do that. [LNB]"He is a really good finisher, one of the best in the country. You can tell by his record that he is always guaranteed to get you a goal." [LNB]
