Bruce - Zenden a no-brainer

Black Cats boss delight with new signing

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 16th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has described Boudewijn Zenden's signing as a 'no-brainer'.

The former Dutch international penned a contract until the end of the season on Friday.

And Bruce stated that once the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough proved his fitness following a knee injury last season - there was little doubt he would get a contract.

"He trained with us all last week and this week and we had a good look and he liked what he saw, and we liked what we saw," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"It was a no-brainer really, until the end of the season - someone with his experience.

"The most important thing was his energy levels were still very good and we had no hesitation in giving him a deal until the end of the season."

Bruce insists that Zenden was also not really ever on trial.

"It wasn't really a trial, you don't play for Liverpool, Marseille and Barcelona if you can't play," he continued.

"The big thing was that we hadn't seen him for a while, he had a serious injury.

"He did his knee playing for Marseille in the Champions League, so that was the main issue was he physically fit and he came over, as he didn't have a club, and proved it."