Sunderland ace Mensah ready for Stoke mission

John Mensah has handed Sunderland coach Steve Bruce a boost by declaring himself willing and able to step into the breach following last Sunday’s devastating Tyne-Wear derby defeat.

Sunderland are under intense pressure to bounce back from the weekend’s setback when Stoke City visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Titus Bramble will be suspended from that game following his sending-off against Newcastle United, opening the door to Mensah.

The Ghanaian has only made one League start for the Black Cats during his second loan spell on Wearside, but between injury and the form of both Bramble and the team prior to Sunday, has been content to bide his time.

Now, however, he is ready to step into Bramble’s shoes.

And the defender dubbed the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ insists Sunderland can recover from Sunday’s humiliation and finish the Premier League campaign in a higher position than last season.

“I am a team player so I have been happy to wait because I was happy the team was doing well.

“I want the club to do well, so it doesn’t matter about me. The team was getting good results and I was pleased for my team-mates because of that.

“But I am fit and when the manager needs me I will play.

“It is a stronger squad this season and the defence has good players. The manager will choose the best team and everyone accepts that.

“The next game is important but every game for our fans is important and we always want to win for them.”

Mensah suffered persistent back and associated problems last season, restricting him to just 14 starts in the Premier League during his first year on loan from Lyon.

But a strong display in the World Cup with Ghana saw Sunderland gamble on the player a second time, a move which seemed to have backfired when the 27-year-old was quickly back in the treatment room with hamstring problems.

Mensah, however, insists his underlying back condition is under control.

“My hamstring was a different injury to the problem I have had before,” he said. “I followed a special programme during the World Cup and it worked well for me. I still have that programme now and if I keep going with it

I hope I can be fit for every game.

“I want to help Sunderland to finish higher in the Premier League than last season and I really believe that with God’s help we can do that.

“We have good players and we can give the fans something to be proud of.”