I'm here to stay says defender Paulo Da Silva

Sep 4 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

PAULO Da Silva is convinced that he has a long-term future at Sunderland.

The Paraguay defender was axed from the Black Cats side after a disappointing display at West Brom and didn’t even make the bench for the defeat of Manchester City, a blow for a player facing a make or break season at the Stadium of Light.

Steve Bruce has spoken of his hope that Da Silva can build on a superb World Cup and a feeling of being more settled in England.

But the Black Cats boss will need to see more evidence that the player has come to terms with the physical demands of the Premier League before throwing him into action again.

That may be an unwelcome message for some – but Da Silva is happy to bide his time as long as the team is winning.

And he dismisses any notion that his future may lie away from Wearside and English football.

“I feel better about things and I just need a chance now to show what I can do,” he said.

“The most important thing for me is the team, and if the team is winning then that is the most important thing. But I want to play as many games as I can and that is my next step – to play in every game.

“It has taken me a while to become settled in England. The English Premier League is very difficult – for me it is the best and hardest league in the world and it takes time to get used to that.