Bruce happy with Da Silva capture

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is confident he has unearthed another diamond after sealing a swoop for Paraguayan defender Paulo da Silva.

The 48-year-old is currently awaiting news on the Black Cats attempts to agree a fee with Portsmouth for England striker Peter Crouch, and has also been heavily linked with the likes of Darren Bent, Richard Dunne and Lee Cattermole.

However, Bruce, who added his capture of 29-year-old Da Silva to that of promising English striker Fraizer Campbell earlier this week, is hoping to maintain his knack of discovering previously unheralded talents such as Wilson Palacios.

He said: “I have had to. I have had big success in targeting the smaller South American countries, if you like.

“At the clubs I have been before, I couldn’t get anywhere near the Brazilians or the Argentinians.

“However, we went into Honduras and we have gone into Ecuador and we have gone into Paraguay, and they have all done remarkably well.

“I hope Paulo will do exactly the same – he has certainly got the credentials.

“He has captained his country for the last five years, he was captain of his team, Toluca in Mexico, and has a wealth of experience.