Steed could be left where he is
STEVE Bruce is considering making Steed Malbranque's move to the left-wing a permanent one after a couple of dazzling displays there in the games against Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City.
The Belgian-born French international has been outstanding since switching flank.
Bruce, who initially moved him across to cover for injuries, mused: "Maybe playing on the left suits him better than on the right.
"It could be his best position these days and it might be that we leave him there," he told the Gazette.
"I'd already taken note of the fact that he had a good game against Spurs earlier in the season playing in that position.
"Being a right footer playing on the left means he can cut inside just as comfortably as going out wide.
"It gives him an extra option when he's got the ball, and it's something we'll look at closely.
"If you're right-footed and on the right you usually have to beat people down the right using pace on the wing – if you cut infield, you tend to move the ball backwards.
"But if you're right-footed on the left and you cut inside things open up for you if you've got good feet, and Steed has definitely got good feet."
If Bruce does look to retain Malbranque on the left, that will put pressure on Andy Reid and Kieran Richardson, who have virtually shared the left-wing berth all season.
Malbranque can still, of course, revert to the right-wing, but Bruce will be in no rush to switch him back, given the fact that Fraizer Campbell is happy to play there.
And with the return of Jordan Henderson to fitness at the weekend, the Wearsider will once again look to make the position his own.
It creates a healthy competition for Bruce, who also saw David Meyler put in his best performance for the club on Sunday, giving him a different option to first-choice central midfielders Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole.
Bruce will be delighted with developments in midfield, and hope that it will see the creation of more goalscoring opportunities.
Since tightening up Sunderland's defensive record in recent weeks, the goals have flowed less freely, and Bruce is anxious to make the most of record signing Darren Bent's goalscoring prowess.
"Benty could have had five against Bolton last week. That's no exaggeration, and to have got 18 Premier League goals at this stage of the season is no mean feat.
"He could have had more – he had one taken off him by the Dubious Goals Panel, which was a joke, and he gave one penalty away to Kenwyne Jones, when he should have taken it.
"He has been fantastic for us this season. Unbelievable. And with nine games to go to add to his total, he must have a chance of going to the World Cup.
"He's a natural goalscorer and we don't have that many of those and he's done it in a team that hasn't created a host of opportunities either.
"If we can create more goals for him in the weeks ahead, it will only improve his chances."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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