Bruce expects tough test from Man City

Steve Bruce has warned his Sunderland players they will face their toughest test of the season so far when they take on big-spending Manchester City on Sunday.

Bruce’s club have won just once away in the league since the first game of last season and they slumped to another defeat on their travels last week at West Bromwich Albion.

They have a better record on home soil, where they’ve been beaten only once in the last eight months, and Bruce knows they need to turn the Stadium of Light into a fortress again as they look to add to a disappointing haul of a single point from their opening two Premier League games.

Roberto Mancini’s City should provide a stern test for Sunderland’s ability to beat the best and Bruce said: “Games don’t come much tougher than this in the Premier League. I watched City in action when they beat Liverpool on Monday, and they were impressive.

“We’ll have a big crowd behind us and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“Everyone wants to play against the big teams and at the moment they don’t come much bigger than Manchester City, with their spending power and the players they’ve brought in.

“They’re doing extremely well and we know it will be a tough test.”

Sunderland will be forced into at least one change from their starting line-up at the Hawthorns, with defender Nedum Onuoha ruled out by the terms of his season-long loan move from City.

Bruce hopes to pair Lee Cattermole and Paraguay international Cristian Riveros in central midfield for the first time against City, who will arrive at Sunderland on the back of a 3-0 win over Liverpool on Monday.

Mancini’s side should travel to Wearside in confident mood, having progressed to the group stages of the Europa League on Thursday, where they will face Italian giants Juventus, Salzburg and Polish outfit Lech Poznan.

But despite the wealth of talent at his disposal, Mancini is quickly discovering that it can be a burden as well as a blessing.

Emmanuel Adebayor is the latest player to make clear his unrest at Eastlands.

Craig Bellamy has already left, Shay Given is expected to leave before the transfer window closes and now Togo striker Adebayor has indicated he will also quit and find another club unless he is guaranteed regular games by Mancini.

Adebayor, who is expected to make way for the returning Mario Balotelli at Sunderland, said: “The season is going to be very long and very difficult for myself. I’m a footballer and have to keep going and not give up. I need to keep fighting for myself and enjoying my football.

“If you’re in a team and you’re not playing, and there is a team that comes in for me, then I will definitely be on my way out because I’m a footballer and I love playing.

“So if I don’t have a chance to play here there will be a lot of chance to play somewhere else. If they (City) force you out then you always have to follow your destiny.”