Sunderland boss heaps praise on Mensah

Bruce has described the Ghanaian as a ‘top-class act’, following his return from a series of niggling injuries.

“He is a top, top-class act, the kid,” he said.

“You just have to watch him once or twice. How he does it week in, week out is beyond me.

“You have to be an exceptionally talented footballer to do what he does because he only trains on a Friday.

“The rest of the time it is bikes and pools and massages and just nursing him through from one week to the next.

“But he is such a good natural athlete that he gets away with it.”