Sunderland get Bridge on loan

Sunderland have secured the loan signing of Wayne Bridge from Manchester City for the rest of the season.

The defender, capped 36 times by England, has played just once for City manager Roberto Mancini this term, against Birmingham in the Carling Cup, and was not named in their 25-man Champions League squad.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill moved for the defender after the his side’s defensive stocks were depleted by the loss of Wes Brown to a suspected medial ligament injury.

“I’m hoping that with Wayne’s ability and experience he can be a big help,” O’Neill said.

“I’m very pleased to have him here and with the number of injuries we’ve sustained recently I’m sure he’ll be a great help to us.”

Bridge was signed by former City boss Mark Hughes in January 2009 from Chelsea for 12 million pounds but the arrivals of Aleksander Kolarov and, more recently, Gael Clichy have limited his game time.

Aside from 15 appearances on loan at relegated West Ham last season, for City Bridge has managed only three Premier League appearances in the past two seasons.

Bridge, 31, started his career at home-town club Southampton in 1997 before sealing a seven million-pound move to Chelsea in 2003.