The 27-year-old Ghana international has been hugely impressive when he has played for the Black Cats this season, and turned in a fine individual display to keep Manchester City star Carlos Tevez quiet last Sunday. However, Mensah, who joined the club on a season-long loan deal from French side Lyon in August last year, has managed only 13 appearances to date because of a back condition which has led to a series of niggling injuries. Sunderland's medical team have now come up with a fitness programme in order to manage the situation, and the defender has started the last four games on the trot despite training with his team-mates only on a Friday. However, while Bruce has been left marvelling at Mensah's ability, he knows the fitness issue is a big one. He said: "He has still got three years left at Lyon, so ultimately we will have a conversation when the time is right and we will just see what develops and see what happens from now until the end of the season. "He is a very, very good player. The problem he has got is the ongoing problem with his injuries. "But we have now got him into some sort of programme which benefits him. There's no disputing that he does tire badly in games, which is normal because he doesn't train a lot. "But he can get away with it because of his natural ability. He is a fantastic defender. "In the first half in particular against Tevez, he never gave him a kick; against [Fulham's Bobby] Zamora, he never gave him a kick. "He is a fantastic player, it is just an absolute crying shame, the ongoing problems he has. "But as a defender, he is unbelievable, superb, as good as you get." Mensah is not the only man within the Black Cats camp struggling to shake off a persistent injury problem, with midfielder Lee Cattermole battling a hamstring-related condition which has limited him to just seven appearances since he came back from knee ligament damage in December. He is rated at 50-50 for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham after sitting out the City game, and Bruce admits his problems are an increasing concern. He said: "Lee came back against Manchester City and played the full game and then the following week, did his hamstring and missed five games. "It's a horrible, niggling injury which he can't seem to shake off, so you could say it is a concern. "He has had all sorts of scans and we can't seem to find out what the problem is. It's a strange one, to say the least." Meanwhile, Bruce has insisted he will not stand in the way of keeper Marton Fulop if the club receives offers for him. The 26-year-old Hungary international has repeatedly spoken of his need for first-team football after slipping behind £9million Craig Gordon in the pecking order on Wearside, and his manager is ready to grant him his wish. Bruce said: "He has made it pretty clear in all sorts of interviews. He is not the number one - I have made my choice there. "He wants to go and play football and we have to respect that and if there is a taker out there, then we will see what happens. But certainly, I won't stand in his way."
