John Mensah says injury woes are behind him

Bullish John Mensah is convinced his injury problems are over – and is confident he has suffered the last of his injury lay-offs this season.

The Ghana defender missed most of Sunderland’s August schedule with a torn hamstring but he is quick to point out that the injury was not related to the chronic back problem that crippled him for weeks at a time last term.

Mensah has a withered spinal canal that causes minor hamstring and muscle problems, but proved during the World Cup that if it is managed correctly he can still play regularly.

His specially-devised training programme at Sunderland mostly consists of gym work and swimming, with his participation in first-team training sessions carefully managed.

As part of the loan deal that brought him back to the Stadium of Light, Mensah has also brought the physio that worked on him in South Africa to Wearside – and he says working with him is already reaping rewards.

He certainly expects to be fit for the trip to Wigan, and with Michael Turner ruled out for the DW Stadium clash the smart money is on an instant recall.

“By the grace of God I am fine now,” Mensah said. “It was a different injury from those I was getting last year and I just had to accept it. Injuries like that are part of football.

“I will not be troubled by my old problems because I am getting special treatment at Sunderland, just like I had during the World Cup.

“I am confident I will play every match for the rest of the season now – honestly.

“I don’t know the coach’s mind, if he wants me to play every game, but I hope to play every match now.

“I think we have found a solution now. I had special treatment during the World Cup and it made a bad difference.

“When I signed the second deal at Sunderland we sat down and an agreement was made that I would follow the same programme with the same treatment.

“If I do that then I am confident I will be okay. I really am.”

Since suffering his injury, Mensah has been joined by international team-mate Asamoah Gyan, a £13million deadline-day capture from Rennes.

Bruce’s decision to bring in Gyan in place of the often infuriating Kenwyne Jones was partly motivated by a belief that the Ghana striker would be more motivated to improve and work hard – and that is something that Mensah endorses wholeheartedly.

There is clearly a mutual admiration between the two men and Mensah admits that he played a part in selling Sunderland to Gyan, who had other options this summer.

“He is a great player and a good person too,” Mensah said.

“He is young and very talented – he will only get better with Sunderland. With the advice of Steve Bruce and Eric Black, he will get much, much better in England.

“Sunderland is a big club, I told him this, and I am delighted with him signing for us.

“I think he understands exactly what we are trying to do – we are a team, we are not about one individual superstar and that is how we will win games.”

Mensah also believes that Gyan – who has released rhythm and blues records in his homeland – will have Sunderland hitting the right notes this season.

“He is the one who leads the music in the Ghana camp!” the defender said.

“We like to listen to music to relieve our tension in the national team and he is the one who has that big responsibility.

“Always we sing and he is the one who leads the singing. He is a very good singer. He sings gospel music and he sings the gospel music very, very well.

“Outside of the camp he has his special music – he makes music with a special singer who is famous in Ghana. He loves his dancing, he loves his music – he gets everyone in Ghana on their feet with his music!”