Bruce on high after capturing Wickham

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce could not hide his delight yesterday after snatching teenage striker Connor Wickham from under the noses of his more illustrious suitors.

Big-spending Liverpool, the club the 18-year-old Ipswich frontman has supported since he was a boy, as well as north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, have long been credited with an interest in the Ipswich player.

However, amid speculation that one of them might attempt to hijack the Black Cats’ swoop for him after they showed their hand last night with an £8.1million bid, the Wearside club made sure their move was decisive by tying him up in a four-year deal to leave Bruce beaming.