Bruce backs Muntari

Inter midfielder Sulley Muntari has been given a vote of confidence by his new Coach Steve Bruce at Sunderland.

The on-loan Ghanaian international moved to the Stadium of Light during the January transfer window and Bruce is pleased to have gotten hold of such an experienced player.

Muntari was a big success with Portsmouth following his move from Udinese prompting a £12.7m move for him by Inter over the summer of 2008.

However, despite him never really holding down a regular place in Jose Mourinho's title winning sides, Bruce is delighted to secure a player who has Premier League experience and several Italian trophies to his name.

“I think he was Jose Mourinho's second signing at Inter Milan and if you look at what he has done there, won the Champions League, won the league twice.

“He is a very, very good player, if you look in those times, he has scored something like 15, 16 goals, so he can bring you a goal, he has got a wand of a left foot.

“He is a very, very good player, so that's what we have brought him in for.”

Bruce also claimed if Muntari fills the expectations held about him, he believes that the two clubs can come to an agreement over a permanent deal.

“There's an option in there which we have agreed with Sulley. If we take the option up, the agreement is in principle with him, so we hope we can make it permanent, but we will see,” he added.

Meanwhile Muntari is pleased to be back playing in England despite their 3-2 defeat by Stoke.

“It was not a good feeling because we wanted to win and get three points,” he said.

“For the past week I have been training with them and they are fantastic guys and it is amazing here so we are going to have a good season.

“I am very happy to be back but all the same it is a bit sad.

“But we have a good manager and the guys are good and we are determined to win the next game.”