Sunderland boss praises players who visited mascot Bradley Lowery in hospital

"There are some things much more important than football."

The manager of Premier League strugglers Sunderland has said there are more important things than football after praising players for cheering up a terminally ill mascot in hospital.

Bradley Lowery, five, fell asleep cuddling his hero Jermain Defoe and was thrilled to see club captain John O'Shea, goalkeeper Vito Mannone and midfielder Seb Larsson on Thursday.