STEVE Bruce will persevere with out-of-form skipper Lee Cattermole and Titus Bramble as he feels both need “time” to recover from serious injuries.

Neither player has hit peak form so far with Bramble’s return to the side last weekend proving an awkward one against a quick, counter-attacking Chelsea team.

He is clearly still far from peak condition and the same goes for Michael Turner, who is also available but yet to be picked for Premier League duty. Bruce feels that with both defenders and his captain, time and patience is required. “There is a big, big time coming up for them,” he said.

“I always remember my old physio at Birmingham, who said you will never be quite right until you are back playing for as long as you have been out.

“They have both had something like six months out and when you look at it, what he said is probably right. They had serious injuries.

“In fact Titus Bramble, Turner, Gordon, Cattermole, Meyler, Campbell – they are all fighting their way back.

“But you have to patient, you can't just snap your fingers and say they are fit and ready to go.

“We must be patient and accept they have all had horrible, horrible injuries. Even a great player like Torres – has he recovered? It's the same problem with that kid.”

It will certainly not be straightforward to get their form back on track this weekend with Stoke – an awkward, direct side – providing a stiff examination of Bruce’s men.

The fact that they have so many former Black Cats in their line-up will provide extra motivation for the Potters, with Kenwyne Jones have enjoyed a profitable start to the new season.

“They will want to come and shove it us up that's for sure,” Bruce said.

“That's what football is. I can't remember being faced by as many as this, everywhere I look there is an ex-Sunderland player and they will want do well.”