Darren Bent back to reality

Nov 16 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Bent admitted: “I was surprised to get the start. It has been a while, nearly four years, something like that. I was delighted the manager gave me the chance.

“There are not many internationals left before the World Cup. That is why this game was so vital, especially for me.

“I must have a chance. The main thing is to keep my head down and keep scoring goals for Sunderland.”

Meanwhile, Nyron Nosworthy believes Sunderland have finally shed their tag as the ‘nearly men’ of the Premier League.

One of only two survivors of the pre-Niall Quinn era, the popular defender is well-placed to judge the rapid evolution of the Black Cats over the last four years.

Having recently signed a new contract at the Stadium of Light, Nosworthy – who says he has been at the club long enough for Mackem blood to be pumping through his veins – believes the team that Steve Bruce has assembled are mentally strong enough to cope with the expectation that comes with being a Sunderland player.

And the 29-year-old feels that the chemistry and strong character of the new arrivals has helped usher in a new era on Wearside. “There are still a few players here from last year, more have been brought in but those new players have a good pedigree and we all get on. You can only play with a smile on your face if you are doing well and we are,” he said.

“To me this is a position that Sunderland have deserved. Since I arrived we have always been playing as the ‘nearly men’, that’s what a former manager used to call us. Now we seem to be cutting the other side of it and winning matches when we are supposed to be.

“We have deserved that and so have the punters because they have been to games expecting us to lose. It’s changed now.”