http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13051943.stm Sunderland defender John Mensah will be out for at least three weeks after suffering a groin injury in Saturday's 3-2 home defeat by West Brom. The 28-year-old Ghana international suffered a grade two adductor tear 11 minutes into the match and will be sidelined for the rest of April. Mensah, who has been plagued by injury in his two seasons on loan from Lyon, had managed seven successive starts. But he could now miss games against Birmingham, Wigan and Fulham. Mensah has made 16 appearances third season and, when fit, has proved a key man for Steve Bruce's side. Bruce is currently trying to get to the bottom of why so many of his players break down in games with Mensah, midfielder Kieran Richardson and defender Anton Ferdinand all limping off on Saturday. The manager has a headache for Saturday's crucial Premier League trip to former club Birmingham with Mensah joining fellow centre-back Titus Bramble on the sidelines and Ferdinand battling to shake off a hamstring problem. Michael Turner is just two games into his comeback from a knee injury, but Bruce's options in central defence are now severely limited, and that could mean a move into the middle for regular right-back Nedum Onuoha. Sunderland are currently six points clear of the relegation zone with six games remaining. A blessing in disguise?
Just about to post it Yes, it is a blessing, it'll mean Bruce won't waste one of our substitutions having to bring Mensah off before the games end. IMO, Bruce will have brought Sess on much earlier than he did if he had the luxury of another substitution afterwards, something which could have seen us pull at least one goal back at the weekend. He cant reach the number of games it takes to automatically sign him (its in his contract) either, we need to look at another prem proven CB, a la Bramble. Baird/Samba etc have been banded around, I'm not falling into that discussion, as it will be down to Bruce, because rationally thinking SNQ isn't going to sack Bruce and have to pay his full contract out.
The thing is, our defence was rock solid when Bramble and Turner were both fit. Since then, neither of them seem to be able to play with each other. An injury is almost inevitable, so we need to find somebody that both will play a decent game of football with.
Blessing in disguise. Mensah has been terrible in during this 7 game run. Mistake prone, weak, slow. He's been NOTHING like the player we'd grown to know and love. Problem here is we've only Ferdinand to step in. Bugger.
He is just far too injury prone for my liking. He's a great defender when he is fully fit, but those days are few and far between, and I reckon he has been struggling with injuries whilst playing in recent games.
If thats so, put Nedum in the middle, PB at RB then we only have the 1 spot at left back to play someone out of position. Expecting defeat anyway. Confidence was sapped after Saturday. Still expect to stay up & still renewed the season ticket.
Can we please have the back 4 of, if Richardson fit Bardo..Turner..Ned..Richardson Bardo great on left so must be fantastic on right Turner to win the ball Ned to play the ball Richardson to give attack options
Is Ferdinand fit? I seem to recall him waving his arms like he was hurt on Saturday. It was the only time he got my attention mind, he was hardly in scintillating form.
I'd like to say I'm deeply shocked at that news but sadly I am not it was bound to happen, strange it coincides with the going getting a bit choppy mind.
Mensah on his day is absolutely outstanding. He, like much of the team, just hasn't looked fit and up for a scrap. Not sure how old Samba is but I could see him and Bramble forging quite a partnership. Absolute beast of a man.
If Blair Adams isn't out on loan somewhere, I think this could be his chance to show us what he can do!
We NEED Samba mate. Beast of a man is spot on, and a superb defender, and a massive threat from corners. Short of signing Cahill, who will b going to a top 4 club, surely, he's a magnificent defender, takes the piss out of Terry, Samba is the next best, and i would be delighted if we signed him.
Samba is quality- would be great to have him here. As for Mensah, I hear that the Brittle Bone Society are delighted to annouce the very same John Mensah as their new president and patron, such is the spotlight he shines on their cause. The guy is a liability these days. If it takes a couple of games to get back in your stride after an injury, then surely he must never be in his stride and the last few games he has played, that has really been the case. We cannot afford part time players who are rarely available. It's ridiculous to even consider signing him for next term.
With a heavy heart i have to agree. He's never going to be more than bit part, and we need a settled defence to do owt. Samba time!
Is it just me that doesn't rate Nedum ? Other than score at Chelsea I don't see how he is any better than Bardo at RB
You have a point there mate. Talk to the citeh lads and they will all tell you he is an excellent centre back, so let's get him in that position now Mensah is injured and see how he gets on.
