We have to beat Wigan says Steve Bruce

Feb 2 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Bruce said: We’re really pleased to bring Alan in and we hope Benjani will be confirmed in the morning. We had lots of things go wrong at the stadium and it’s been very hectic.

“We’ve told the FA we got it done in time and hopefully that will be confirmed because we need to have a few more in the squad.”

The £1.5m move for the Zimbabwean collapsed over the weekend, but was revived yesterday when the striker was sensibly advised to accept the financial package offered by Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn after talks with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

The 31-year-old will offer competition for a misfiring Kenwyne Jones and vital cover for 15-goal top goalscorer Darren Bent, having ended a miserable two years at Manchester City.

The arrival of Hutton from Tottenham was even more important and solved a major headache for Bruce at right-back.

The signing of two full-backs had been the main objective at the start of the window and at least the Black Cats can see out the season with two specialist right-backs in the squad, while Kilgallon can fill in at left-back if needed. Whether Hutton, signed on loan until the end of the season, will oust previous first choice Phil Bardsley remains to be seen, although the former Manchester United prospect was only on the bench last night with John Mensah at right-back.

Scotland international Hutton is also only likely to have left Spurs if he has been promised first-team football.

There was no public indication of that last night, but the defender – who was not signed early enough to play against Stoke City last night – will hope the switch will revive a career which has gone stale at White Hart Lane following his £9m move from Glasgow Rangers two years ago.

He said: “Everyone wants to play football and I’m no different but I know, like everyone else, I’ll have to give 110% to show the manager I’m worthy of a starting place.

“I already know how big Sunderland is as a club. They have great fans and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of them. When I was at Rangers the fans were superb and I’m sure Sunderland’s will be much the same.

“I’m over the moon to be here and now I want to crack on and do my best for Sunderland. I’m really looking forward to Saturday. It’s a shame we couldn’t get the deal through earlier, but that just makes me look forward to getting out there all the more.”