Bruce Delighted With Asamoah

Asamoah Gyan may have cost over £13m but with his ten goals and four assists he has been worth his weight in gold.

Gyan, who has played the majority of his career up front on his own, has adapted perfectly for Bruce since Darren Bent bolted out the door to Aston Villa.

Bruce said today: “We`re delighted with Asamoah because one of the big risks when you bring in players from abroad is whether or not they`re going to be able to adapt to our style of football.

“We`ve had plenty of players coming to English clubs over the years that have been absolute stars abroad but haven`t been able for one reason or another to do it in this country and we`ve had experience of it ourselves recently.

“Paulo Da Silva looked a world-beater over in Mexico, but he came over here and struggled to adapt.

“Last summer he looked a world-beater again during the World Cup in South Africa and we had high hopes that his second season would be the one where he proved himself but once again he found it difficult and moved on to Real Zaragoza last month.

“It wouldn`t surprise me though if Spanish football proves more suited to him and you see the best of him again.

“The difference between Paulo and Asamoah is that Paulo arrived on a free while Asamoah cost us a club record fee.

“I always thought he would do well with us but you can never, ever, be 100 per cent certain and I`m just glad to see that he has done so well.

“A few months further down the line from his signing and I don`t think anyone can argue that he has what it takes to handle Premier League football.

“He`s had an added burden on his shoulders recently, being our only fit striker since Darren Bent left, but he seems to have thrived on that.

“Losing Darren was a massive blow for us, no doubt about that, but Asamoah has played as a lone striker almost his entire career and it`s almost as if it is his natural game to play up front by himself.”

Let’s hope his form continues at Goodison Park as Sunderland look to stop the rot of three straight defeats in the league.