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Bruce signs Bramble from Wigan

Bruce played a major role in rebuilding Bramble’s shattered morale when he bought the centre-back from Newcastle to Wigan during his spell in charge of the Latics.

He has swooped for the 28-year-old again to strengthen his defensive options and Bramble, who has agreed a three-year contract, could make his first appearance for the Black Cats in Saturday’s friendly against Hull in Portugal.

Bramble is reported to have cost Sunderland around one million pounds (1.5 million dollars) and Bruce is hopeful Sunderland supporters will forget about the player’s mistake-filled five-year stay at local rivals Newcastle.

“I thought long and hard about signing him because I knew it might be a difficult one for Sunderland fans and for him,” Bruce told the Sunderland Echo.

“But the great thing is that the lad’s got plenty of bottle - he wanted to come here, he wanted to play for me and Sunderland, and I feel sure that Sunderland fans will recognise that and give him a fair crack of the whip.

“If Titus shows - as I think he will - that he can make us better, then I don’t think supporters will have a problem accepting him.

“The easiest thing would have been not to sign him and to avoid any hassle, but I think he’s a player who can genuinely improve us.

“He had a difficult start to his top-flight career. I think the move to Newcastle was too soon for him, it was too big a club at too tender an age and he’s had his work cut out to shift the image of himself he created there.”