Shearer Loves Titus

Bramble has blown away many critics with his solid performances and three consecutive clean sheets in the top flight.

He must be playing well for Alan Shearer to praise him before the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend.

Shearer told the Daily Mail: "On his day, I don`t think there are many better central defenders around than Titus.

"We saw that at Newcastle, he was as good as anyone at times. The big difference now is those days are being put together consistently.

"He has always had ability, that is why Sir Bobby Robson signed him from Ipswich when he was 20 or 21 years of age. What he has added is maturity.

"The problem for him was concentration. He didn`t manage to put those days together and he made the odd mistake, which let him down.

"He has had his critics, but he has always bounced back. He is a mentally strong. From what I`ve seen of him this season, and from what I`ve heard, he has had an excellent start at Sunderland.

"He is a lot more experienced now than he was as a young kid at Newcastle and centre-back is a position where experience counts for so much. He has become a really top defender."

Let's hope that Bramble can keep Andy 'my pint just slipped out of my hand' Carroll quiet this Sunday and make it four clean sheets and three more points against our bitterest rivals.

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