Michael Turner can make great impression

Sep 8 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

MICHAEL Turner can make Sunderland a team to be feared, according to team-mate Fraizer Campbell.

The 21-year-old played alongside the Black Cats’ £6.5m centre-back for Hull City two seasons ago, and is delighted to be reunited with a “proper” defender.

Sunderland’s most expensive defender, £8m Anton Ferdinand, can occasionally be guilty of trying to over-elaborate at the wrong end of the field but Campbell believes that Turner’s approach is more in keeping with that his new manager Steve Bruce used to adopt as a player.

And as well as doing the basics of winning the ball, the England Under-21 international sees Turner (pictured far right) as an intimidating presence for rival forwards. “Mike is a good addition to the squad,” he said. “He’s a typical defender, good in the air, likes to put his foot in and he blocks shots. He puts his body on the line and he does the proper stuff that a defender should do well.

“He can put a bit of fear in the opposition and hopefully he’ll do very

well.” The downpayment on Turner was substantially lower than the figures bandied around when the likes of Liverpool were linked with the Tigers’ captain this summer.

Nevertheless, Sunderland have flexed their financial muscle considerably since Niall Quinn was appointed chairman three years ago.

Now Campbell – who started at Manchester United and was also loaned to Tottenham – wants to see the Wearside club finally bring its off-the-field strength to bear on the Premier League.

“It’s got massive potential,” he said. “There are loads of fans and they are fanatical. You can’t walk down the street without seeing someone wearing a Sunderland shirt.