Bruce unhappy with Capello claim

Bruce unhappy with Capello claim

Published Feb. 11, 2011 3:10 p.m. ET

The 27-year-old striker, who completed a £24million switch to Villa Park last month, scored his second senior international goal in Wednesday night's 2-1 friendly victory in Denmark.

He later revealed national manager Fabio Capello had told him the transfer had helped his England chances, a claim which did not go down well with Bruce, the man who paid an initial £10million to take him to Wearside from Tottenham during the summer of 2009.

The Black Cats boss said: "That's a frustration for us all and it is hugely disrespectful if he has said those sort of things.

"Darren Bent scored 24 [Premier League] goals for us and played an unbelievable season, and yet didn't go to the World Cup, so I find that a harsh statement.

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"The big problem with all of that is the geography of where we are. It's very difficult to come and watch any people at Sunderland, especially on their own patch.

"It doesn't happen very often. Usually managers of international teams are watching us away from home, and sometimes that's a bit difficult for the players as much as anything else."

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