Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is confident new signing Bolo Zenden can still make a major impact in the Barclays Premier League. The 33-year-old former Holland international made his debut for the club as a substitute in last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Liverpool just a day after signing a contract until the end of the season.

He said: "He can play in both [positions], but he has still got fantastic energy for someone of his age.

"He is technically very, very good - you don't play for Barcelona and Liverpool and Marseille and Chelsea and all of those teams if you haven't got really good ability. That was never in question.

"He will give us that little bit of experience and also around the dressing room with the younger lads too, he is everything I hoped he would be.

"That bit of experience, that bit of know-how is very welcome. He is an intelligent boy."