Phil ready to get stuck in for Cats

Jan 24 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

NEW signing Phil Bardsley has promised to bring some fighting spirit to Sunderland, along with a no-nonsense approach to their defending.

And although he has found plenty of familiar faces at the Stadium of Light, it is the thought of leaving his comfort zone which attracted Bardsley to Wearside.

The Black Cats were guilty of over-playing against Tottenham Hotspur last week, a reluctance to clear their lines allowing Aaron Lennon to open the scoring at White Hart Lane.

They later allowed a long ball to pass all the way from goalkeeper Radek Cerny to striker Robbie Keane without being touched by a visiting defender.

Manager Roy Keane was critical of his side’s sloppy approach afterwards and Bardsley seems an ideal character to address it. The 22-year-old right-back, who has joined on a three-and-a-half year contract from Manchester United in a move worth up to £2m, has a reassuringly old-fashioned approach.

“I like to get involved, get forward and attack. But first and foremost I’m a defender,” he said after his first training session at the Academy of Light. “I’m not afraid to put my head in where it hurts, let’s put it like that. I enjoy rolling my sleeves up and getting mud on the old shirt.

“I’d hope I’ve got a job to do at right-back, but we’ve got a big squad so everyone’s looking to cement their place in the team. I’m sure the manager loves it when players are fighting for their place and that’s what I intend to do.”

Having played alongside Keane, Bardsley said the Irishman’s presence was enough to persuade him to snub Sheffield United, where he spent the first half of the season on loan.

“The manager’s a winner so I know what to expect and I’m sure he knows what to expect from me,” said the Mancunian. “As soon as Roy spoke to me there was only one place for me.

“I wanted to play in the Premiership and I’ve always wanted the chance of having Roy Keane as my manager. At Man United he always got the best out of you in training and games. I’m sure he can get the best out of me as a manager.”

Bardsley played alongside Paul McShane and Kieran Richardson in the Manchester United side which beat Middlesbrough to win the 2003 FA Youth Cup.

Former Red Devils players Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Liam Miller, Raimond van der Gouw (the club’s goalkeeping coach) and Michael Clegg (fitness and conditioning coach) are at Sunderland, Quinton Fortune is training with the squad, current United defender Jonny Evans is on loan and ex-coaches Neil Bailey, Ricky Sbragia and Mick Brown are on the staff. “It’s nice to be reunited with Paul and Kieran,” Bardsley said. “We had a good relationship at United, they’re good players and they’ve welcomed me to the squad.

“Neil was the youth team coach and he’s a good guy, I really enjoyed his training. Ricky took me on at 16 and gave me my chance to play in the reserves, so it’s nice to be back working with them.”

Sunderland are Bardsley’s seventh club but only his second permanent one after loans at Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.

“As a young lad you have to go out on loan and get experience,” he reasoned. “But I think it was time to move on from Man United, and after speaking to Roy it was obvious this was the best place. If you’re not playing regularly you get stale. The time comes when you can’t kid yourself and you have to move on.

“I played in a couple of Champions League games and a couple of Premier League games, but sometimes you need more than that.

“I’ve come to a club with great fans, a great training ground, a great ground and great people around the place. I’ve only been here a day but the people are so friendly and happy. It could be a bit happier if we were winning a bit more but I’m sure with the players we’ve got, we’re capable of that.”