Big things expected of Paulo da Silva

Nov 28 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND can soon expect to see the best of Paulo da Silva, and manager Steve Bruce is pleased to be at a club which allows him to be patient with the Paraguayan.

Da Silva is in line for only his fifth Premier League start against Wigan Athletic today after a slow start to his Black Cats career.

With an impressive record of signings from Central and South America, however, Bruce was never expecting anything else.

“All the South Americans I’ve signed take a little bit of time,” he explained. “It’s normal for them to take four or five months to adapt but he’s loving the football.

“Until they get used to it, it’s totally, totally different in the Premiership. It’s the intensity.

“They love it once they’ve been here and handled it because physically they’re all very, very good.

“You’ve got to be patient. I didn’t play (Wigan Athletic’s Maynor) Figueroa for six months, gave him his debut against (Cristiano) Ronaldo at the end of the season and I don’t think he missed a game the next season.

“(Hugo) Rodallega took a bit of time but he’s another exceptionally good player.” Bruce discovered da Silva by chance when scouting for Wigan last season. “I’ve got a really good contact who tips me off about one or two,” he revealed.

“When he says, ‘Jump,’ I jump. I went to watch somebody else, a striker.

“I went to Quito to watch Ecuador v Paraguay and Paulo was fantastic on the night but I didn’t need a centre-half at the time.

“When I came here and I knew he was available.

“He’s a very, very clever defender – never rash, calm and quick. He’s a typical South American defender who gets very tight to you.”

If managers have to show patience with players signed from the other side of the Atlantic, they need the same from their own chairman.

Bruce says Sunderland’s Niall Quinn and Wigan’s Dave Whelan both fitted the bill.

“Da Silva was a free transfer who was captain of his country and the chairman didn’t need much persuading,” he said. “When I signed Rodallega (for Wigan) for $4m you’ve got to have a bit of patience because they find it difficult just like you would if you went to Mexico.

“But I think I’ve got an understanding with Niall.”