Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia is glad to see the back of players who caused disruption in the Black Cats squad. "From my point of view the numbers now are workable," said Sbragia on a vast squad he inherited from former boss Roy Keane.

"There were 22 in training the other day, and I would say that was the best it's been since I took over.

"It means now we've maybe nine players not whispering, not happy and disrupting the dressing room.

"We've not got players drifting around, complaining, whilst we (the coaching staff) were trying to work out what to do with them.

"There were too many whispers going on behind my back.

"Players who are unhappy maybe don't see light at the end of the tunnel, so start whispering, disrupting the dressing room.

"I want players to be realistic if they are not playing. But the squad I've got now I'm really pleased with. They've gelled and worked hard together.

"The atmosphere downstairs is absolutely brilliant. With that negativity gone, I feel it has made a difference in terms of the results.

"Sometimes players will blame other players, but now they've no excuse.

"Whoever has gone, has gone now, so it's up to the 22 players here to get us higher up that table."