Source: Northern_Echo
Christmas fixtures a culture shock for Gyan
ASAMOAH GYAN admitted he was lonely this Christmas but his goal against Blackburn Rovers proved to be a real winter warmer. Gyan, a £13m signing from Rennes, has never played over the Christmas period, and conceded he was more accustomed to the continental way of life with winter breaks. A packed festive schedule was a real culture shock for the striker. Gyan said: I'm not used to playing every two days. I've been alone during Christmas every year before now I'd gone to Ghana and saw my family but this year I haven't been able to. It's something strange to me, but now I'm in England and I'll get used to it. Gyan was a 79th minute replacement for Darren Bent after being left on the bench as his manager Steve Bruce conceded that the build-up of games came as a surprise to his enigmatic striker. Bruce said: He is finding it hard to adapt. His family are in Ghana and I think he was expecting a break. He didn't think the Premier League played in the winter. He is not playing for a manager who will not drop him. I had a decision to make today, but Gyan was stiff and sore, he has never played two in three days before, he finds that ludicrous. So my decision was made for me. Gyan managed to do what he failed to do last week against Blackpool score, with his only chance of his ten-minute cameo. It was a goal which came as a great relief to the striker. Gyan said: I'm really happy with the goal, because I haven't scored in a while, and with the chances we created against Blackpool it was frustrating we didn't score. We just had to keep our composure and do our best to win games. Jordan (Henderson) gave me the ball and I was just trying to tease the defender. I saw (David) Meyler going through but I just thought I have to be myself. Sometimes as an attacker you have to be selfish and you have to take responsibility, so I decided to shoot and I got it. Such selfishness in front of goal is, after all, a striker's prerogative, but it is one his manager will gain plenty of grey hairs over. Bruce said: He will drive me nuts. But he has got that touch of the unexpected about him which he showed. Sunderland travel to Aston Villa tomorrow, and with both Bent and Danny Welbeck picking up slight knocks against Blackburn, Gyan may be in line for a start. He said: I don't know how we'll line up. I'm here to make sure Sunderland go places, and it doesn't matter if I'm on the bench or not. I just need to keep focused and make sure Sunderland win. Meanwhile, Sunderland's on-loan defender Nyron Nosworthy has apologised to Sheffield United supporters after a section of fans ironically cheered his half-time replacement during the Blades' 4-2 defeat at Turf Moor. Nosworthy had been singled out for abuse after playing a part in two of Burnley's goals and, as he was walking down the tunnel, made a single- finger gesture at a fan. Nosworthy, who is on a season- long loan at Bramall Lane, said: It was poor by my standards and I say sorry to all the fans if they felt that it showed that I don't care that's the last thing I feel. I care a lot.