RUSSELL ANDERSON is trying to engineer a move back to Scotland after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce paved the way for the start of his January transfer dealings yesterday.

Despite being short of numbers, Bruce confirmed he has reached an agreement with the Scotland international to end the remaining six months of his contract.

Now Anderson is weighing up his options, with a return to the Scottish Premier League with Hibernian most likely.

The Sunderland boss is assessesing ways of strengthening his ranks. Hamburg’s Guy Demel and Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa are Bruce’s preferred acquisitions to play in his full-back positions, while he is also considering a variety of options to add more competition to his central defensive ranks.

Bruce would also like to offload strikers Daryl Murphy and David Healy.

Anderson struggled to force his way into the Sunderland team since his move from Aberdeen in August 2007, but his departure means a small squad has been depleted further.

The Scot has struggled with injuries – making just one substitute appearance in the Premier League – having made more than 300 appearances during a successful ten years at Pittodrie.

Bruce said: “This decision has been taken with Russell to give him an opportunity to find a club where he can fulfil his desire to play more first team football.

“He has been very unfortunate with injuries since he came here but his attitude and determination to get back playing have been exemplary.

We wish him all the very best for the future.”

The Sunderland boss is reluctant to pay over inflated fees for players he is targeting, which has so far prevented him from doing deals for Figueroa and Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson.

He has also found Hamburg would like to recoup around £5m for right-back Demel, who is interested in returning to England where he spent a year with Arsenal a decade ago.

Bruce, however, will be aware there is serious competition for his signature, with AC Milan and Inter Milan monitoring the situation.

Demel said: “I am aware Sunderland are keen on me, I have also been told there are also one or more clubs keen on me. AC Milan are also ready to move for me.

“But I am still a player of Hamburg. I am still part of this squad.”

The 28-year-old is just two Bundesliga appearances short of his century for Hamburg, where he expects to return after playing for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.

But if he is given any encouragement to move on by his club, he will consider what Sunderland have to say.

“At first Hamburg would need to agree with Sunderland before that I am unable to negotiate anything,” he said. “The club is aware there will be a bid dropping in soon.

Should the club really consider selling me then it would probably be the time to leave.”

Bruce, meanwhile, was criticised yesterday by Stoke boss Tony Pulis, after the Sunderland manager suggested that the Potters couldn’t afford Kenwyne Jones.

Jones has attracted interest from Stoke, Birmingham, Aston Villa and Tottenham, but Bruce does not feel many clubs could match Sunderland’s valuation.

“That situation is very disappointing because I’ve always tried to work manager to manager. I believe deals should be done that way,” said Pulis.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s not gone to that stage. If I’m going to be doing anything I’ll be speaking to Steve Bruce first. All this nonsense about what he’s earning has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

“It’s a case of do we want him and do they want to sell him?

“Brucie has said he doesn’t want to sell him, and who’s saying we want him? But if Steve came back and said he wanted £20m for Kenwyne Jones, I’m not sure the club would pay that.”