Black Cats cull survivor Bardsley vows to take his chance

Sep 4 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

PHIL Bardsley wants to make Steve Bruce think again about adding further defensive reinforcements to his Sunderland squad after surviving the summer cull of last season’s underachievers.

Despite initially talking up the players he inherited, Bruce has cleared out seven of the squad that under-performed last term – including player of the season Danny Collins and skipper Dean Whitehead – as he looks to instill a winning mentality.

Although they are still Sunderland players, Bruce was also listening to offers for Anton Ferdinand, Nyron Nosworthy and George McCartney, and attempted to add competition in Bardsley’s right-back position right up until Tuesday’s 5pm deadline.

Bardsley (pictured, left), who was a rumoured target for Stoke City and West Ham, has started all four of Sunderland’s Premier League games so far, but the back four as a unit has come in for criticism following successive struggles with the physical approach of Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn and Tony Pulis’ Potters.

Bardsley, who admits he was “surprised” to see Collins depart this week, insists he will not be affected by the speculation as

he looks to nail down a starting slot. “You never know what is going to happen in this game but the manager obviously knows what he is doing,” the defender said.

“He has come in and brought in his own ideas and obviously made one or two decisions over the last week or so.

“The message behind it all I suppose is that if you have to perform well every week. You have to perform to the maximum of your ability week in, week out or you’re not in the team.

“If that happens and your time is up, then you go and find a new club – it happens in football and it’s not the be-all and end-all. But I’m still here so I have to make the most of my chance.