John Mensah's tribute to physios at Black Cats
Mar 16 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
As revealed in The Journal last month, Mensah has been so happy with the way Sunderland
have treated him that he would love to extend his temporary stay on Wearside.
His family travelled to watch him play for the first time against Manchester City and he was delighted to respond to their presence with a good performance.
However, despite those fine displays, a permanent deal at the end of the season is far from clear cut with the need for an operation to correct his spinal canal and the year out which that would cause obscuring any possible transfer from Lyon.
“I would like to stay here. I am happy and glad – my colleagues make me happy,” he admitted.
“I am enjoying it at Sunderland. My dad and my brother were here for the City game and that is the first time my family have come here to watch a game.
“I am very happy and I tried to show my dad how well his son is playing.
“Unfortunately we lost the lead and I am not too happy about that but in the next game we will deliver.” Bruce is clearly full of admiration for the 27-year-old – and admits it is a surprise that the defender can perform so well with such limited scope for preparation.
“Everyone has watched him – I think that’s his 12th or 13th game?” the Black Cats boss said.
“We’ve lost once. He’s a top, top-class act is the kid. You just have to watch him once to realise that.
“How he does it week in, week out is beyond me. You have to be an exceptional footballer to do what he does because he only trains once a week on a Friday.
“The rest of the time it’s bikes and pools and massages. We’re nursing him through one week to the next but he’s such a good, natural athlete – and a good player – that he gets away with it.”
After a four-point haul last week Sunderland look to have done enough to stave off relegation – but Bruce will still be keeping a keen eye on Tuesday night’s clash between Wigan, one place below the Black Cats, and Aston Villa.
Mensah thanks the Black Cats’ physios
