Bramble has endured an injury-plagued time since arriving at the Stadium of Light last year and featured just 24 times for the Black Cats. The fully-fit former Wigan centre-half is now hoping that he will have the chance to fill the void left by Ferdinand and partner Wes Brown in the back four, and believes he can perform for Steve Bruce's men as well as former team-mate did. However he knows his fight for a first-team spot will not be easy as Brown's former Manchester United team-mate John O'Shea has been declared fit and could feature in their next game against Chelsea on September 10 - a match Bramble has looked at as his chance to shine. "We all wish Anton all the best. He's been a real character in the dressing room," the 30-year-old told the club's official website. "Him leaving will give someone else a chance and hopefully that's me. "It's always frustrating to not be playing - no-one wants to train hard all week and then not play at the weekend and I'm no different." He went on: "I've struggled for a run of games over the last season or so but that's part of football. You have to deal with it and move on. "I'll be training hard and hopefully get the nod for the Chelsea game. "But we've got great competition for places at the back and I've always said that by bringing in players like Wes Brown and John O'Shea is a great thing for this club. "If you have a bad game or aren't at 100 per cent in training then someone is going to come in and take your place."
