Mensah to get a personal physio at Sunderland

Published on: 06 August 2010

Sunderland coach Steve Bruce plans to bring John Mensah’s personal physio to Wearside in a bid to ease the Ghanaian’s injury problems.

After a successful loan spell on Wearside last season, Lyon defender Mensah is expected to return to Wearside this term – and even claims he has already signed for the Black Cats on his official website, although Sunderland have yet to confirm the move.

Mensah was outstanding for Sunderland last season, but his season was disrupted by a niggling back injury which meant he missed more than half the Premier League campaign.

His injury problems eventually improved after Sunderland’s medical team put him on a special training regime which saw him work in the gym for most of the week and only join in training on Fridays.

But Mensah took his personal physio to the World Cup with him in the summer as he helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals, and he played in four of his country’s five games – lasting the full 90 minutes on each occasion.

And Black Cats boss Bruce will explore the idea of bringing the French specialist to Sunderland to get the best out of Mensah.

Bruce said: “John worked with his own physio at the World Cup and played four games in three weeks, so that is something we are looking at.

“I’m not sure exactly how they work together but it seems to help, and if John does come here we will hopefully get his physio to come too.

“John is a terrific player – probably the best defender I have worked with – and his injuries are the only drawback. If bringing his own physio helps, that’s what we will try to do.”

Mensah is understood to have agreed personal terms with Sunderland, and said on his website: “I am happy to be back at the Stadium of Light, especially meeting Steve Bruce, assistant manager Eric Black, my team-mates and the lovely supporters of Sunderland.

“It is like a dream come true, they make me happy and I thank God for such a renewal.”

A deal may be close but as yet there has been no confirmation from the Black Cats as he must get his work permit before Sunderland make any public statement on the transfer.

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