Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits he threw defender Paulo da Silva too soon into the Premiership. The 30-year-old Paraguay international could make his first start since January in Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham after being given further time to acclimatise to life in the north-east.

Da Silva arrived at the Stadium of Light from Mexican side Toluca in August and has 19 senior appearances, the last three of them from the bench, to his name.

Bruce said: "As I have said repeatedly, in my experience with the South Americans - it was the same with [Wilson] Palacios and [Antonio] Valencia and [Hugo] Rodallega and in particular [Maynor] Figueroa - it took them time.

"I didn't play Figueroa for seven months until I gave him his debut.

"I probably threw Paulo in a bit quick, but we were struggling with injuries and suspensions at the time.

"But I think now, he is just starting to get to grips with the culture, the way the game is played and the intensity of it, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the next five or six weeks.

"I am sure he will be wanting to do well. He is going to the World Cup as captain of his country, which is a fantastic achievement for him as well."

Bruce has mined a rich South American seam in recent years, but has learned to be patient.

He said: "It's totally, totally different. In Mexico, it's red hot, isn't it? It's at walking pace and everything comes to life in the last third.

"And in Mexico, they are not very big, so when he sees [Didier] Drogba and people like that, there's a bit of a difference physically. But most of it is mental.

"Let's be fair, within six months, he is fluent in the language, he's moved his family here and the kids are now going to school and all of that.

"If we are being honest, we would all struggle with that. If we all had to go to Paraguay or Mexico, we might struggle as well."