Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has a long injury list but is encouraging his squad to battle on and find their form after a four game losing streak has seen his side drop to eighth. To make matters worse, the side has lost Michael Turner, Lee Cattermole, David Meyler, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck to long-term injuries and, recently, Nedum Onuoha, Bolo Zenden and Craig Gordon have been ruled out, with the latter having to visit a knee specialist in Sweden.
Bruce said: "The thing you look for is that resilience to get you out of it. We have got to try to get over the next two or three games and get over March if we can.
"After that, we have got eight or nine games where you look, on paper anyway, and think we have still got an outstanding chance.
"The eight or nine coming back will freshen us up. They will be champing at the bit and we will need that. It will give the whole place a lift when we get them back training again.
As well as his problems with his side's injuries, Bruce has been disappointed with the squad's performances inability to hold on to a lead.
"There have been times over the last month or so when I have known I have needed to freshen it up and change it around," he added.
"That's normal. I saw [United boss] Sir Alex [Ferguson] pick the same side back-to-back for the first time in two-and-a-half years, so it just shows you what needs to be done in this Premier League.
"At the moment, we can't do that, so we have to knuckle down and get on with it and hope we can get out of this run we are in."
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