Bruce has steered his Sunderland side to eighth in the Premier League table

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce hopes his side will be bolstered by the return of several key absentees to his squad following the FA Cup break.

The lay-off has allowed players such as Nedum Onuoha and Michael Turner to make tentative returns to training.

"All of a sudden I can throw six or seven into the mix who are big players," Bruce told BBC Newcastle.

"It gives the rest of the squad a lift instead of being down to the bare bones which we have been for two months."

Bruce added: "I've had 13 or 14 to choose from rather than 23, which is big numbers."

Also among those looking for a return to training are Boudewijn Zenden and Lee Cattermole, as well as Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell.

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