EVEN as his injury crisis deepens, Steve Bruce is refusing to rush John Mensah’s return for fear that the Ghana captain will head straight back into an overcrowded treatment room.
The centre-back was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Fulham, but that does not necessarily mean he is in line to make his latest injury comeback at the weekend.
With Jordan Henderson and Lee Cattermole doubtful, Bruce is desperately short of options for this weekend’s Premier League trip to Bolton Wanderers.
But, having seen Mensah break down after returning too soon from injury in the past, he will take a cautious approach with the on-loan defender.
“John trained for three days last week, but in the past I’ve put him in and he’s broken down again,” said Bruce.
“We’ll look at him again in training this week and take it from there.”
Mensah’s agent, Fabien Piveteau, told The Journal yesterday he is optimistic his client will be back at the Stadium of Light for a third season in August.
But Bruce having publicly voiced his concerns over the 28-year-old’s fitness, highlights the leap of faith he will have to make for that to happen.
Mensah is approaching the end of his second consecutive season-long loan from Lyon. Bruce rates his defensive qualities highly, but his injury record has always been problematic.
He has made just 33 appearances for Sunderland, and was substituted 12 minutes into his last, against West Bromwich Albion, with a calf strain.
Mensah made two substitute appearances after a calf injury in October, but as soon as he was
pitched in from the start he dislocated his shoulder, keeping him out of the next three matches and forcing him to play in obvious discomfort for the next few.
His availability would be a huge boost for Bruce (pictured right), who currently has no strikers and just one other specialist centre-back fit. He is also in danger of being left short in the middle of midfield.
Were Mensah able to play, Nedum Onuoha could move to his more accustomed right-back role, freeing up Ahmed Elmohamady to bolster a depleted midfield.
Henderson and Cattermole picked up knocks in the defeat by Fulham – Sunderland’s ninth in 11 games – although the captain was able to complete the game. They too will be monitored closely at the Academy of Light this week.
The Black Cats are already without David Meyler and waiting to see if Kieran Richardson’s calf is up to a return after three matches out.
Compared to some other departments of the team it is hardly a long casualty list, but one exacerbated by the need to push Stéphane Sessègnon and Steed Malbranque further up to fill the gaps in the forward line.
“We will see how bad they are. We’re doing everything we possibly can,” Bruce said of Cattermole and Henderson.
The latter’s already hectic workload looks set to be increased after he was named in a 40-man provisional squad for the European Under-21 Championships in Denmark.
Henderson has started all but one Premier League game this season, finishing most of them, only playing no part against West Brom. He has also worn the Three Lions at full and Under-21 level.
Danny Welbeck, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, is also included despite a second half of the season blighted by hamstring trouble. He is not expected to play again this season.
Meanwhile, Sunderland Under-18s claimed a title yesterday when a 0-0 draw at home to Leeds United guaranteed their place at the top of Premier Academy Group D.
