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BENJANI: KANU IS OFF THE MARK

ABOVE: Benjani returns to Portsmouth with new club Sunderland intent on proving Kanu is off the mark

9th February 2010

By Ian Murtagh

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BENJANI returns to crisis-torn Portsmouth with new club Sunderland tonight intent on proving big mate Kanu is way off the mark.

The pair have kept in touch since the Zimbabwe international quit Fratton Park for Manchester City and they have spoken following Benjani’s loan move to the Black Cats.

Sunderland’s 1-1 draw at home to Wigan on Saturday, when the striker came on for the last five minutes, stretched their winless run to 10 league games.

And it led to Steve Bruce’s side being touted as likely relegation candidates after looking more like European contenders earlier this season.

Kanu is one of those who thinks Sunderland could get sucked into trouble. Benjani, 31, said: “I am always on the phone to King Kanu and I joke with him that Portsmouth are going down. When I joined Sunderland he said, ‘You will be with us’, but I say, ‘No, no, no – it’s not like that’. That will not happen."

“Seriously, he is happy for me that I have a new club and I wish them the best of luck and really hope they get out of the problems they are in.”

Benjani endured a frustrating spell at City after previously flourishing at Pompey. He added: “I knew the Portsmouth game was coming up quickly and I am really looking forward to it. It was a very special time for all of us who were at the club back then and probably my best times in football. When I see the situation now, I am sad.”

Bruce will make changes in a bid to find the winning formula but with Kenwyne Jones back to form and Darren Bent always likely to produce a goal, Benjani is likely to start on the bench.

Bruce said: “Kenwyne was terrific against Wigan with easily his best display of the season. That’s what we require from him every game while Darren has been fantastic for us all season.”

Former Pompey forward Benjani added: “I know that in Bent and Jones, we have two great, great players already at the club. If they keep playing as well as they did on Saturday, I know I will be on the bench. But I didn’t come here to be a sub, so the only way to get in is to push them really hard.”

Black Cats star Jordan Henderson faces six weeks out after twisting his ankle at the weekend, with the possibility of being ruled out for the season when he has a scan on Thursday.

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