Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits his players must be mentally strong to survive on Wearside.

With the club backed by over 40,000 fanatical supporters most weeks, Bruce wants to upgrade his team's mental strength this summer.

He told safc.com: "I learned a lot about how difficult it is to play here. No disrespect to the other clubs I've been at, but they're not quite like playing in front of an expectant 45,000 crowd.

"In the future we have to have people who can handle the situation of playing for a big club, because that's what we are.

"I'm sure different managers have had it before, too. It takes a certain player to play here. They have to be strong enough mentally to take on a big crowd week in, week out."