For my background on Steve Bruce and Man. Utd., I have read both Roy Keane’s autobiography and the excellent book “The Boss” about Alex Ferguson. It is clear in those books that Steve Bruce and some of the other senior players were the “untouchables” at Man. Yoo, they were allowed to get away with a lot in terms of “bonding” sessions, which invariably revolved around alcohol.

The England rugby squad may have been criticised for a some of their night outs in New Zealand, but Steve Bruce obviously feels that these old-fashioned bonding sessions still have a useful part to play in professional sport. Sunderland signed 11 new players over the summer and the manager probably felt that they needed the sort of night out he enjoyed when he was captain at Manchester United almost 20 years ago.

Despite a shortened training session the following morning as the players struggled with their hangovers, Bruce believes the only player to suffer was midfielder Craig Gardner, who had to pay the bill after his bank card was drawn out of a bowl, as reported in the Daily Telegraph..

“They all went out together this week,” said Bruce, whose side do not play until Monday night at Norwich. “They went go-karting, they went for a Japanese meal. Where they went after that, God only knows, but they all came back in one piece. “That’s good – it’s part and parcel of being in the team. I believe they came to an agreement that they would all throw their credit cards in and whoever’s came out would buy the meal for everyone else.”

“I’m told that Gardner’s came out – he paid for it. It’s not just ability in terms of the squad I’ve got now, they’re also a great bunch, a really good bunch who want to do well. They are a manager’s dream. That was uppermost in my decision-making.”

“We need to find a winning formula, but you need a squad to do that,” he said. “If we’re being honest, we didn’t have a squad to cope last year. With the squad I’ve got now, I’m hoping I can go two or three years and only add one or two individuals, rather than trying to buy an entirely new group of players. That’s been very difficult. Next summer, if the owner comes to me and says 'here’s £20million to spend,’ I’ll be spending it on two players rather than 6 or 7.”

John O’Shea wore the captain’s armband for the great 4-0 win against Stoke, although Bruce has repeatedly denied speculation that the former Manchester United defender would take over on a permanent basis.

One of the big questions is whether Lee Cattermole will return for his 50th Sunderland appearance; he has trained well, and this game against Norwich may be appropriate for his defensive qualities, as he can be great at protecting the back four.

Paul Lambert seemingly has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Monday's visit of Sunderland. Zak Whitbread remains absent with a hamstring problem, while fellow defenders Elliott Ward and Dani Ayala are both out with knee complaints.

Phil Bardsley will sit out the second of 4 games through suspension, and we also have
David Meyler, Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell out of consideration through injury.

We had a 4-1 League Cup romp at Carrow Road 2 years ago, and Bruce was surprised at the demise of his former club which apparently left him "baffled and saddened". Bruce need pity The Canaries no longer. Lambert has since transformed the club, clinching back-to-back promotions, while Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt are the only regular starters who remain from the side outplayed in August 2009.

Bruce has overseen a gradual transformation of his own at Sunderland. He believes the current squad is his "best ever", despite high-profile departures of Asamoah Gyan, Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson.

Trebling their goal tally for the season with the 4-0 demolition of Stoke ended a five-match winless run in all competitions. Norwich are also vying for successive victories, having registered their first top-flight away win for 17 years at Bolton last time out.

The last five league meetings between these clubs have ended 1-0 in favour of the home side, with 2 wins to Norwich. Let’s look to the Black Cats ending that strange streak tomorrow.