Let's Talk About Sess Brucey

With the news that young striker Ryan Noble missing out on the game this weekend against Fulham, Sunderland will have a squad with no recognised striker.

Sessegnon finished the game against Wigan as a striker and will be asked to play this role again this weekend.

Bruce has high hopes on the Benin playmaker and has asked him to show his new crowd his versatility.

Bruce told skysports.com: ''I don't think he has ever been an out-and-out number nine, but we are stretching him on the stretching machines down there at the minute seeing if he can be the new Drogba - that's what we have nicknamed him.

'The beauty of Steph when we brought him in is that he can play in a variety of positions.

'When you bring in somebody from abroad, sometimes you would like to give them six or eight weeks to let them settle in and get out of the hotel, get their family settled and get used to playing in England.

'He is just coming to terms with that. He was excellent against Birmingham as well. He has produced some good performances.

Even though the team hasn't won, he as an individual has done particularly well.'

The team that we saw walk off the pitch as 4-2 victors will be largely the same with only Bardsley replacing Ferdinand.

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