Bruce the loan arranger

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce plans to continue bolstering his ranks with loan recruits.

Bruce believes temporary signings provide the best value for money and was delighted with the success of a similar policy last season.

The Black Cats drafted in Danny Welbeck, Nedum Onuoha, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Ahmed Elmohamady on short-term deals last season

The latter has already completed a permanent switch to the Stadium of Light this summer, and he may not be the only familiar face returning to the North East.

Bruce has hinted that he may move again for Manchester United striker Welbeck and Manchester City defender Onuoha, with the pair set to be on the fringes of the first-team fold at their parent clubs.

Whether he is able to bring the duo back for 2011/12 remains to be seen, but it appears to be almost certain that the Black Cats will have a collection of loan stars on board by the time the new season gets underway.

"I always go into the loan market - certainly with British players - looking for a player who has something to prove," Bruce said.

"Nedum and Danny last season, the one thing about them was they were desperate to play regularly, and when you have that sort of hunger in a player it helps us and them. That is my thinking.

"It also helps you financially too. Imagine trying to buy Danny, Nedum or Sulley Muntari on the open market.

"The downside is the fact you rarely have them for longer than a season.

"Where else can you find an £8m defender or £10m striker for your squad for nothing?"

Bruce added: "It does help to bring in loan players but it is a skill in itself picking them, looking to get players who can do the job and will do the job for you.

"To be fair to my two domestic signings, Danny and Nedum, I could not have asked for more from them in terms of the efforts they put in.

"It worked out well for them too, because both have enhanced their own careers thanks to a season at Sunderland.

"It is an area of recruitment which has become more important in recent seasons and this summer we will be looking at the loan market again to see where we can gain value for money."