John Mensah is role model for Black Cats stars

Dec 11 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND should be inspired to put their bodies on the line by the sight of John Mensah alongside them today, according to Asamoah Gyan.

When the Ghana captain dislocated his shoulder playing against Stoke City, the medics told him he would be out of action for at least six weeks.

But five weeks later he will be at Craven Cottage this afternoon to play for the third consecutive weekend.

The injury-prone Mensah decided to ignore the medical advice when first-choice centre-backs Titus Bramble and Michael Turner picked up injuries.

It left manager Steve Bruce with only Anton Ferdinand and Paulo Da Silva – neither of whom he is particularly enraptured with – and Nedum Onuoha – who has been performing well at right-back – fit and available.

Just watching him against West Ham United last Sunday, and particularly at Wolverhampton Wanderers the week before, it was abundantly clear 28-year-old Mensah was playing through considerable pain in the Sunderland cause.

Gyan, a team-mate for club and country, is suitably impressed.

“He’s a good sportsman because he’s someone who sacrifices himself for the team,” says the centre-forward.

“Although he’s in pain he has to sacrifice himself, there’s no choice. I thank him for that. We saw against West Ham he was in pain but he kept on going.

“We should follow in his footsteps. It’s not that easy to be playing all the time.”

With Bramble and Turner out, Ferdinand will partner Mensah in the heart of the defence for the third straight game.