Sounds like it,
STEVE Bruce has no qualms about throwing Phil Bardsley straight into the Premier League battle despite the defenderâs six-week absence.
Bardsley has not featured for the Black Cats since September 10 after he was handed a retrospective four-match ban for a stamp on Chelseaâs Juan Mata.
Last yearâs Player of the Season returns to the fold for Saturdayâs trip to fellow strugglers Bolton, although it remains to be seen whether he goes straight into the side, with Kieran Richardson and John OâShea deputising ably in the 26-year-oldâs absence.
But Sunderland boss Bruce is not concerned about Bardsleyâs fitness being affected by his suspension, with the full-back appearing twice for Scotland in Euro 2012 qualifiers during his domestic ban.
Bruce said: âBardoâs had as many international games this season as he has club matches.
âHe had a couple of games for Scotland before the Chelsea match and heâs had a couple afterwards so heâll still be sharp.
âIâll have to look at the selection closer to the game but itâs great to have him available again because heâs such a steady performer and a great competitor.
âItâs nice to have the option to pick him again and hopefully his disciplinary problems are behind him now for the rest of the season.â
Bardsley has featured only four times for the Black Cats this season after earning a one-match ban for his late dismissal in the derby defeat to Newcastle.
That meant his punishment for the Mata incident was extended, with Bruce relieved that he can call upon the former Manchester United defender again.
âPhil has been a miss â particularly because heâs barely featured for us this season,â said Bruce.
âPhil made a daft mistake in the Chelsea game and heâs paid a heavy price for it.
âYou canât condone what he did and he has to learn, but sometimes things happen in the heat of the moment in football matches and you react in a way you wouldnât normally.
âI donât think thereâs malice in Phil and I donât think it was a pre-meditated thing but if you make a mistake like he did, youâve got to accept that thereâll be repercussions
STEVE Bruce has no qualms about throwing Phil Bardsley straight into the Premier League battle despite the defenderâs six-week absence.
Bardsley has not featured for the Black Cats since September 10 after he was handed a retrospective four-match ban for a stamp on Chelseaâs Juan Mata.
Last yearâs Player of the Season returns to the fold for Saturdayâs trip to fellow strugglers Bolton, although it remains to be seen whether he goes straight into the side, with Kieran Richardson and John OâShea deputising ably in the 26-year-oldâs absence.
But Sunderland boss Bruce is not concerned about Bardsleyâs fitness being affected by his suspension, with the full-back appearing twice for Scotland in Euro 2012 qualifiers during his domestic ban.
Bruce said: âBardoâs had as many international games this season as he has club matches.
âHe had a couple of games for Scotland before the Chelsea match and heâs had a couple afterwards so heâll still be sharp.
âIâll have to look at the selection closer to the game but itâs great to have him available again because heâs such a steady performer and a great competitor.
âItâs nice to have the option to pick him again and hopefully his disciplinary problems are behind him now for the rest of the season.â
Bardsley has featured only four times for the Black Cats this season after earning a one-match ban for his late dismissal in the derby defeat to Newcastle.
That meant his punishment for the Mata incident was extended, with Bruce relieved that he can call upon the former Manchester United defender again.
âPhil has been a miss â particularly because heâs barely featured for us this season,â said Bruce.
âPhil made a daft mistake in the Chelsea game and heâs paid a heavy price for it.
âYou canât condone what he did and he has to learn, but sometimes things happen in the heat of the moment in football matches and you react in a way you wouldnât normally.
âI donât think thereâs malice in Phil and I donât think it was a pre-meditated thing but if you make a mistake like he did, youâve got to accept that thereâll be repercussions
