Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was excited with the performances of debutants John Mensah and Paulo da Silva in last night's Carling Cup win over Birmingham City.
The Ghana and Paraguay international captains made their first home starts in the Black Cats' 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Birmingham, and turned in assured displays with £8million signing Anton Ferdinand an interested spectator on the bench.
Bruce could now have big decisions to make ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Wolves.
He said: "You just see Mensah and you look and think, 'That's a bit of quality'. He has got that arrogance that top players have got, he is quick, powerful, he jumps, heads the ball well, he's tough.
"That's why he is captain of his country and da Silva mirrors him in that respect. He will be okay too.
"It's taken a little while but the two of them are here now, they are part of us now, thankfully. They ill be big players for the club, I am sure of that.
"The two of them are captains of their countries, and you don't captain your country unless you have got something. Of course, they have never played in English football, that's the big question mark.
"But I am sure they will be big players for the club over the next few months and years. They are two really good players and they both can play anywhere too."