Sunderland vs Stoke City preview - Bendtner relishing fresh start

Posted Sunday, September 18, 2011 by PA

Nicklas Bendtner admits that life in Sunderland is a world away from the bright lights of London but insisted that he needed to move from Arsenal to pursue his ambitions.

The Danish striker has moved to Wearside on a year-long loan - and made it clear he will not return to the Gunners afterwards if it is merely to warm the bench.

Bendtner says he has hardly watched Arsenal on television this season, but that he hopes his ex-team-mates overcome their difficult start to the season.

The 23-year-old, likely to lead the attack against Stoke on Sunday, said: "It's very different from London, but you just have to learn and adapt.

"I have rented a good house and am probably going to spend most of my time there as I did in London, and then spend time with my family when I am not playing football so it's going to be okay.

"It's different but I think you should be willing to adapt everywhere you go. Obviously it's not what I'm used to but I'm sure I will have a great time here."

Bendtner has been dogged by an interview he gave 18 months ago where he was quoted as saying he viewed himself as "one of the best strikers in the world" but that he needed to score more goals, and he was keen to set the record straight at Sunderland's training ground in Cleadon.

He added: "What I said is that when a striker scores more than 20 goals a season then the papers are quick to say now he's one of the best strikers in the world.

"I said I thought in my game that I can always improve but the thing that I missed that I needed to do was to score more goals.

"But it was difficult for me as I never really got a run of games so I didn't have a chance to do that."

John O'Shea could return to bolster Sunderland's defence at home to Stoke on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland defender missed the defeat by Chelsea due to a calf strain but has returned to training. Young striker Connor Wickham could make his first start since the 18-year-old's move from Ipswich.

Tony Pulis has backed Steve Bruce to get through his difficult start to the season.

Bruce made 11 signings during the summer transfer window in an effort to bolster his squad, but has since seen striker Asamoah Gyan make a shock loan move to United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain, while on the pitch the Black Cats have started the campaign without a win in five games.

That run has included a derby defeat at home to Newcastle, as well as a Carling Cup second-round exit at the hands of Brighton.

The Wearside outfit head into Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke at the Stadium of Light with the pressure on Bruce, but Potters boss Pulis is confident his counterpart will not let Sunderland get stuck in a rut and that he and the club "will be fine".

Pulis said: "Steve Bruce is a great manager, he is at a great club and you have difficult times - that is management, it is a really difficult job.

"The aspirations of people connected with clubs now is far beyond what most people can achieve but that is the way we live our lives.

"Expectations and aspirations of fans at every club up and down the country far exceed what is reality in lots of respects, but you have to deal with it and manage it.

"Ninety per cent is managing expectations but you have to do it if you want to be in it.

"Steve and the club will be fine. He is a strong and competent person who will enjoy the challenge.

"You need a bit of time to bed in new players. He's been unlucky with John O'Shea's injury and the situation with Asamoah Gyan, but that happens.

"He won't want me trying to tell him what to do. Football is like life, it goes up and down."

Pulis will check on the condition of a host of players ahead of Sunday's contest.

Several squad members did not travel to Ukraine for this week's Europa League Group E opener against Dynamo Kiev, with record signing Peter Crouch - a target for Sunderland before he joined Stoke last month - staying at home as a precaution after missing training, and Matthew Etherington (back), Rory Delap (groin) and Marc Wilson (hamstring) also absent from the trip.

That quartet and Jonathan Woodgate are among those that will be assessed, while goalkeeper Asmir Begovic - rested for the Dynamo game - is expected to return.

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