Nyron: I can still be a Cats survivor

Feb 12 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NYRON Nosworthy believes he can remain one of Sunderland’s great survivors, despite being pushed down the pecking order by the addition of Tal Ben-Haim and Calum Davenport.

The defender, targeting the Black Cats’ trip to Anfield in a fortnight for an ahead-of-schedule return to the squad, feels his experience of fending off new signings over the past four years will help keep him central to Ricky Sbragia’s plans.

Nosworthy has seen the likes of Danny Higginbotham, Stanislav Varga, Russell Anderson, Jonny Evans and Anton Ferdinand signed over the past two years, but has remained a pivotal part of Sunderland’s back four. He has played virtually every game since the team returned to the Premier League.

His survival skills will be tested with the recruitment of defenders with top-flight pedigree in Ben-Haim and Davenport and Nosworthy admits the timing of his injury couldn’t have been worse.

Although Sunderland boss Sbragia always intended to recruit at least one centre-back during the transfer window, Nosworthy’s hamstring injury forced his hand – and left the 28-year-old facing a battle for a first-team spot. “It’s frustrating because I was finding a bit of form with the partnership (with Danny Collins) and consistency,” Nosworthy said.

“An injury puts you out of sync but it’s part and parcel of football. When you come back you could be dropped but for

me, I just have to make sure I come back strong and work harder.

“It’s all change since I got injured with Tal Ben-Haim and Calum Davenport coming in. Competition is what everyone likes. If you don’t, you don’t like football. I thrive on working hard and it’s better to have strength in numbers. When you get injuries, like me, it’s good to have back up.

“We need new players. We had me, Anton, Danny who were the three main centre-backs, although Paul McShane came back from Hull. If any of us got injured we had trouble, so now we have strength in numbers.

“We can relax now and we don’t have to worry about paying ridiculous money for players.

“Me and Danny have been here and as long as you stay fresh and stay relevant in the manager’s plans, then that should keep you in the frame. Managers and players change but you just have to focus on your own game and approach. If you do well, you stay in the team.”

Nosworthy’s performances have improved since the appointment of Sbragia and the defender is a big supporter of the manager’s more relaxed attitude.

Sbragia illustrated his ability to make tough calls by shipping out El-Hadji Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda last month, but on the whole he has backed the current squad’s ability to lift them out of relegation trouble.

“The manager has encouraged us in the dressing room – Ricky is very relaxed and he has a laugh,” he revealed. “Everyone is jumping and it’s certainly helping us to turn things around and climb up the table.

“The one major thing is that we have good team spirit. We are all good friends, we pull each other along in training and it comes out in the match.”

Meanwhile, Sbragia was watching Norway’s 1-0 defeat of Germany in an international friendly last night as he begins his summer transfer scouting in earnest. The Black Cats have a clutch of players on international duty and Sbragia is hoping all of his first-team contenders emerged unscathed from their respective fixtures.

“We have 12 or 13 away on international duty and we hope on Thursday we get the all-clear when they report in,” Sbragia said. “It’s a fingers crossed job, especially people like Kenwyne Jones, Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards in El Salvador.”

SUNDERLAND’S home clash with Tottenham has been re-arranged for Saturday, March 7 at 3pm. The Premier League fixture, originally on Saturday, February 28 and then switched to Sunday, March 1, was postponed because of Spurs’ involvement in the Carling Cup final.