Cats' ace within a whisker of England call-up
SUNDERLAND defender Michael Turner was within a whisker of an England call-up at the weekend.
Bruce said: "Michael has been great for us since he got here, and I know Mr Capello was impressed with what he saw of him at White Hart Lane.
"I know Michael has been on standby for England in the past, and he was on standby this time too. He was close."
In the end Turner was not asked to link up with team-mate Darren Bent in the squad which took on Brazil in Qatar on Saturday.
But Bruce reckons the centre-half, who turned 26 this month, has to do exactly what he has asked Darren Bent to do - persevere at club level to boost his international prospects.
He told the Gazette: "I think when it comes to Darren's England career, he will be judged less on that one-off game in the Middle East, where he was part of a scratch side playing in searing heat, than he will be on what he does over the course of this season.
"I've told Darren that – he shouldn't allow himself to be put off by any setbacks this season, he just has to go on and try to score as many goals for Sunderland Football Club as he can.
"The same applies to Michael really – he's just got to go out there and give his best for the club in every game.
"He got noticed by England when he was doing that for Hull last season, and I'm sure it will be the same again if he continues to do that at Sunderland.
"He has been absolutely terrific for us since he moved here, and I think that sort of form has put him in the England reckoning.
"If he keeps on producing the sort of performances he has done in recent weeks, there's no reason why he can't keep up the pressure for him to be considered."
Turner misses this weekend's glamour game against Arsenal through suspension – he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Sunderland's last outing, the 2-0 defeat by Spurs at White Hart Lane.
And Bruce is the first to admit the imposing defender will be a big miss.
"He's a massive presence for us at the back, he loves to be in the thick of things, and he loves to head the ball.
"It's going to mean more changes in defence, but when I say one player's absence is another player's opportunity I don't say it lightly.
"Any player who comes into the starting XI has a golden opportunity to impress and hopefully someone will step in this weekend and do themselves proud."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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