Bruce's relief at end of Turner's agony
Steve Bruce says he's delighted that Michael Turner's Premier League "agony" is over and the big centre half can finally get on with his season.
Turner missed the first two matches of the 2010/11 season through a suspension hanging over from the last campaign.
But he returned in the Carling Cup game against Colchester United on Tuesday, helping the Wearsiders keep their first clean sheet of the season.
And Bruce says he delighted to have one of his key players back.
He told the Echo: "It's good to get Michael back on the pitch again because it's been agony for him sitting it out.
"He's one of those players who hates missing games.
"He played through injury several times last season because he didn't want to miss matches – that's the sort of footballer he is.
"So to miss out on the first two games after completing a full pre-season, was exactly what he didn't want.
"I know he's found it frustrating not being able to help in the games against Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion but he's back now and we're all delighted with that."
Turner was facing League One opposition for the cup tie on Tuesday and improved visibly as the game went on.
He is now expected to start Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester City, probably partnering Titus Bramble in central defence and his manager is delighted that the defender has had a chance to shake the cobwebs out of his system with the cup tie.
"The Colchester game was probably the ideal warm up," Bruce said. "And it's great for Michael that he has been able to get that match under his belt before having the challenge of a Premier League game against one of the country's top team.
"He'll be a lot better for the 90 minutes against Colchester because he's the sort of player who needs a run of games to bring out the best in him."
As well as Turner, Lee Cattermole also got a run out in the Colchester game and is expected to make an immediate return to the side at the weekend, while there was also a pleasing sight of Andy Reid playing his first football for the Black Cats in six months.
Bruce said: "There's no hiding the fact that is wasn't the greatest game of football from us against Colchester but the positives to take, apart from the fact that we won it and are still in the competition, is that Turner and Cattermole will have sharpened up a lot from being involved and Andy Reid is now on his way back."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
