STEVE BRUCE is set for a meeting with Sunderland owner Ellis Short to discuss possible transfer targets for next season.
The Black Cats boss was given the thumbs-up by chairman Niall Quinn earlier this week, who indicated that he had earned Short’s trust as the American gave his seal of approval on the players Bruce has already brought into the Stadium of Light.
Bruce has already begun the process in seeking for new blood, in particular filling the void up front left by striker Darren Bent who stunned everyone at the club by jumping ship to relegation battlers Aston Villa.
The Sunderland manager said: “It’s quite refreshing that I have an owner like that who puts his trust in you, who gives you the tools to manage and leaves you alone with it.
“He was desperately upset by (the 2-0 home loss to) Liverpool, which I can understand. But that’s one of the reasons I agreed to stay here because, from top to bottom, the club is run right and with an owner like I have, it is very, very good.
“I enjoy working with him and I will be going with my cap in hand very shortly to see how much more money he has got.”
Bruce is hoping that striker Asamoah Gyan can replicate the dazzling form he displayed for Ghana against England last Tuesday, in which he scored a sublime goal in injury-time to earn the Black Stars a deserved draw.
Gyan has come underfire from a small section of fans for not replicating his international for his club.
However, Bruce insists his hitman has done well considering that the Ghanaian is in his first season for the club, as well as having to cope with living and playing in a new environment.
He added: “We have got three ecstatic Ghanaians in the dressing room this week and one in particular who is normally larger than life burst into the building today.
“It’s the first time when England have conceded a goal I have jumped up for the opposition, and how great it was when I saw four of them involved from Sunderland.
“Everywhere I looked there was a Sunderland player away, so it shows the improvement.
“Asamoah gave a wonderful performance last Tuesday.
“As for his time at Sunderland, he’s got 10 goals for us and he’s done okay.
“He found it difficult to start with but he has got some goals for us.
“He’s had a decent first season and hopefully he can replicate Tuesday’s performance against Manchester City.
“His display for Ghana was superb and it came at the highest level.”
