Sunderland boss: Mensah best defender I have worked with

erland boss Steve Bruce refuses to rule out bringing Lyon defender John Mensah back to the club.

Former Manchester United captain Bruce rates the Ghana international the best defensive talent he has worked with.

"I think I speak for every Sunderland fan who's seen him play when I say John Mensah is a fantastic defender," he told safc.com.

"I read one newspaper column today who put him in the best XI of the World Cup and rightly so. I've never worked with a more gifted defender - but he has got problems.

"He's played four games for Ghana and had his personal physio out there. If at all possible I will bring him back but the club comes first.

"There's no way with his injury problems that we could make the deal permanent. He has three years left at Lyon and we will have conversations with them.

"I will be respectful to them and to the player, but I would love to bring him back if the deal's right.

"If we can get something structured then obviously he's worth the gamble."