Anton to fight for place

Sunderland defender vows to come back stronger

Last updated: 12th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Anton to fight for place

Ferdinand: Staying positive

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Anton Ferdinand has warned his rivals for a place at Sunderland that he will come back fighting.

The Black Cats have not been as strong defensively as they have been going forward during the early part of the season and manager Steve Bruce has not been able to find a settled back four as yet.

Ferdinand has been left out of the starting XI for the past three games, although he could replace the suspended Michael Turner against Arsenal next time out.

The 24-year-old insists he has no problem in scrapping for regular inclusion as he is confident he will eventually cement a spot in the side.

Ferdinand says he has been brought up with the right attitude and he feels that it will also stand his brother, Rio, in good stead as he battles to come through a difficult period of his own.

The Manchester United centre-back has been criticised for some recent poor performances but has been backed to prove to prove the doubters wrong.

"It has been an up and down time for me, but that's football. Football is for mentally tough people - if you're not, you get found out," Anton told the Sunderland Echo.

"I am still enjoying my football. I will always fight my corner and I will always get my place back in the team. That's the character I am.

"You see that with my brother as well. It's something that has been put into us from a young age by our mum and dad - not to be a quitter.

"These situations, although they can put you on a downer, I tend to look forward to them."

Harsh

The Sunderland defender cannot understand the comments directed at his brother, who has proved to be one of the finest players in his position over the last decade.

"The criticism of Rio is a bit harsh from my point of view," he said.

"People will say I am saying that because he's my brother, but this is the first time he has had a bad period since he was playing at West Ham, and that was 10 or 11 years ago.

"For a player of his ability to play in so many big games and have one bad patch in 10 years, that says something - that he is one of the best.

"He knew that this was going to happen. The minute he does not play well, people are going to jump on his back.

"But I know my brother and he is going to come back stronger than ever.

"He wants to help me. He might be the best defender in the world but he wants me to be as good as him if not better and he wants me to achieve everything he's achieved."