Cats boss frustrated in bid for left-back
Sep 10 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
STEVE Bruce was in Holland to watch new signing John Mensah yesterday after admitting he came close to going into Saturday’s game against Hull with another left-back in his squad.
The on-loan Ghanaian is a leading candidate to replace George McCartney against the Tigers after the Black Cats’ only senior left-back was injured representing Northern Ireland last week.
International commitments mean Bruce has hardly seen Mensah since the visa issues delaying his move to England were finally resolved, so he travelled to Utrecht to watch him play Japan.
The Black Stars were beaten 4-3 in the friendly but all Japan’s goals came after captain Mensah’s half-time substitution.
Mensah lined up in his preferred position of centre-half in a side missing many of its leading lights after qualifying for the World Cup at the weekend. He was withdrawn at the interval with Ghana leading 2-0. That had been extended to 3-1 with 13 minutes to go, only for Japan to win in dramatic fashion.
