Sunderland V Norwich at Stadium of Light - Match Preview

Bridge available for Black Cats.

Wayne Bridge has gone straight into the Sunderland squad for their Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich after completing a loan move from Manchester City.

The 31-year-old full-back, who has not played a competitive game since September, is included in the midst of an injury crisis which has robbed manager Martin O'Neill of defenders Wes Brown (medial ligament), Titus Bramble (Achilles/foot) and Matt Kilgallon (ankle).

Midfielder David Vaughan (ankle ligaments) is likely to be sidelined for several weeks while skipper Lee Cattermole (hamstring) remains a doubt, and the manager will hope Fraizer Campbell has had no reaction to his first senior appearance in 17 months at the weekend following two serious knee injuries as Nicklas Bendtner recovers from a fractured nose.



Norwich boss Paul Lambert played under O'Neill during their time together at Celtic, and indeed, was given time to study for his coaching badges in Germany by him as he started to consider where his future career would take him.

Lambert is one of a series of men to have worked with O'Neill who have since joined him among the managerial ranks, and the Black Cats boss is delighted to see them thriving.



He said: "It's particularly nice to see some people like Paul, Neil Lennon, Simon Grayson, who I have had as players, it's pleasing to see them doing so well.



"I had Paul in the latter stages of his career, but he was far from finished. He went on to win some big matches for us and some big games with us.

"But it was just in his final year there when it looked as if he was going to be looking at either coaching or managing that he asked me if he could take his coaching badges in Germany, where he had a great affinity with them in his time with Dortmund. So I said `yes, absolutely, go and do it'.



"He went over there, did the badges and then I realised this was what he wanted to do, coaching or managing, so he stepped into it and I think he has taken to it very, very well indeed, as results would suggest, and well done him."



Lambert began his managerial career in Scotland with Livingston, but headed south of the border to join Wycombe in June 2006 with a warm recommendation from one of the club's former incumbents.

O'Neill said: "I think deep down I said to the owner of the club that I thought he might be worth having a little look at, and they did so, and he did very, very well indeed, very well.



"I don't really know what happened at the end, but I know that by the time he did leave, he had taken Wycombe into the semi-final of the League Cup, where they played Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final, and went very, very close to getting into the play-offs, so from that viewpoint, it was fine.



"What he has done at Norwich has been remarkable."



Norwich have no fresh injury worries ahead.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy, Wales striker Steve Morison and midfielders Bradley Johnson and Andrew Surman were all rested for the FA Cup win at West Brom and will come back into contention, along with on-loan Tottenham full-back Kyle Naughton, who was ineligible.



Striker James Vaughan has recovered from his long-term knee injury but is expected to need more time to get fully match fit, as is defender Elliott Ward.

Lambert has often been compared to his former manager, who like the Scotsman had spells in charge of Wycombe and, albeit briefly, Norwich.

And the 42-year-old feels if he can emulate O'Neill's achievements, it will be a job well done.



"My five years at Celtic under him was a major part of my career and you learn a lot," Lambert said.

"He is brilliant at getting the best out of people, playing with confidence. I loved playing under him. It was terrific.

"Whenever I needed advice, I knew I could pick up the phone to him. I would never call him by his first name in case I get fined still. I have too much respect for him and what he has done."



Source: PA

Source: PA