John Mensah is still sidelined for Sunderland as they take on Aston Villa in a trend that will worry the deputy Black Stars captain.

The defender has come in for high praise from Sunderland manager Steve Bruce since his loan move from Olympic Lyon but a calf injury has sidelined him recently.

He missed Sunderland’s trip to Manchester United where they earned a point and was absent again when they beat Liverpool 1-0. Mensah was again missing in their 1-2 loss to Birmingham City over the weekend.

Mensah’s has made just one premier league start and one Carling Cup start alongside one substitute appearance since joining Steve Bruce’s side.

The player is confident he will thrive in English football but with competition for places in the Sunderland defence so fierce, the Ghanaian’s stretch on the sidelines will do him no good.

And he will be eager to ensure that his Lyon nightmare is not played out all over again. Claude Puel had high hopes for the defensive rock when he signed from Stade Rennes but a string of injuries and long spells on the sidelines forced a change of heart before the Ghanaian was declared surplus to requirement.

With a permanent deal to tie at the end of the season, Mensah will be hoping he will spend much more time on the pitch to make his case than off it.