Bruce enjoyed another hefty spree in the market over the summer, bringing nine players to the club for a figure of around £18million. The Sunderland tactician has been backed by his board since arriving at the club in the summer of 2009, but he is fully aware that the Wearsiders want to see a return on their investment this term. And the Black Cats boss knows he will not be splashing owner Ellis Short's cash when the market re-opens. He told the Chronicle: "We're never ever satisfied as managers, that's just the way we're made - there's always someone else out there you would like, someone who could strengthen your team or add a little extra. "However, I do believe that I now just need time to work with what I've got. "We can't just keep asking the owner to keep putting his hand in his pocket. "He did it again over the summer and I'm very pleased with that because we brought in some top-class players and right at the end of the window we broke the club transfer record to bring in a major player in Asamoah Gyan." Bruce's talented young squad have demonstrated their potential in the early part of the season after registering positive results against some of the the Premier League's elite. Six of Sunderland's eight points have been earned against some of the top teams in the division, with a win against Manchester City to go alongside draws against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. But Bruce believes the Stadium of Light outfit can still get better as the season progresses. "Although we could have done without one or two injuries, we're pleased with the balance of the squad overall and with what I've got now," he said. "I'm very pleased with the quality and the attitude and I'm enjoying working with them. "The training has been a pleasure since we got back into pre-season. "They're working so hard, they've been terrific - there's a lot of hungry, young ambitious players now. "So while we might do a little bit of business in January depending on the circumstances, our main priority is working with the players we've already got here and moulding them into the successful unit we're confident they can become."
