Steve Bruce in fallout with Steed Malbranque

Mar 3 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

STEVE Bruce’s problems as Sunderland manager have been exacerbated by a fallout with midfielder Steed Malbranque after a series of anonymous showings from the temperamental winger.

Malbranque is one of the most creative players in the Sunderland squad, but he has failed to perform in recent weeks.

And his lack of determination and ambition on the right flank has infuriated Bruce.

The winger was not even on the bench during the insipid goalless draw with Fulham last weekend, even though the Black Cats were crying out for some imagination and flair in a moribund midfield.

Instead, Bruce named four defenders and a goalkeeper in his seven substitutes with Malbranque frozen out of the first-team picture altogether and Andy Reid still sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The dispute is an unwanted distraction for the Black Cats boss, who needs all hands at the pump as the Wearsiders slide further into relegation trouble – and he must look to resolve it before the arrival of Bolton Wanderers next Tuesday.

Malbranque is a mercurial talent and a tricky character to deal with as a manager, but he also has the priceless ability to unlock a defence when he is in the side and focused – a quality Sunderland have obviously lacked in recent week.

Nevertheless, it is difficult not to have some sympathy for Bruce, who has seen Malbranque gradually fade as an attacking threat the longer the season has gone on despite a bright start under the new manager.