Bolton Game Called Off – Blessing In Disguise?

Had the game not been called off, Sunderland would be going into the match against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow with an injury ravaged side. Granted, we did gain a valuable point away to Blackburn in our last Premier League outing with nine first players missing. However, tomorrow was going to be another difficult task with Bruce facing similar injury problems.

We should take it as a blessing. Bruce is planning to strengthen the squad during the transfer window and we should be considerably better prepared when we replay the game. Bolton Wanderers are a side we’ve already beaten this season and a team we would expect to beat again with the fixture being at the Stadium of Light.

The short break will give our players the chance to regain their fitness ahead of a tough trip to Stamford Bridge next week. It’s normally a game we would write off but after nearly beating Man Utd at Old Trafford earlier on this season and beating Arsenal and Liverpool at home we really should go into the game thinking we could actually get something out of it. Oh, and Essien and Drogba are missing as they are both playing in the African cup of nations which can only help our cause (ok, albeit a little bit. Yeah ok, it probably has no relevance at all).

On the transfer front, Sunderland have been linked with several players this week including: Guy Demel (Hamburg’s right-back) Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke striker) Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough winger) David Bentley (Spurs outcast) and Younes Kaboul (the Pompey blasphemer). All I’m sure you would agree would be a welcome improvement on our current side.