SUNDERLAND full-back Phil Bardsley has thrown his support behind Steve Bruce and admits he has the under-fire manager to thank for turning his career around.

The Black Cats boss has come under some criticism from unhappy fans after his side went from European contenders to relegation strugglers in a matter of months.

Questions have also been asked about the sale of Darren Bent without a replacement being brought in, as well as the signings of South American trio Paulo Da Silva, Marcos Angeleri and Christian Riveros, who have all failed to make an impact.

This season, Bruce’s priority was a top-ten finish, something the Black Cats can still achieve if they beat West Ham on Sunday and other results go their way.

But Bardsley, who scooped both fans’ and players’ player of the year awards on Wednesday, has jumped to his manager’s defence and insists he has done the best job possible considering the injury crisis that has swept through the squad.

“He has had some stick but he has done a great job,” the 25-year-old said.

“He has had to call on young lads and young Jack [Colback] made the central midfield role his own position and he has probably been our best player, so it is not all doom and gloom but you still want everyone fit.

“He is the perfect manager, a great manager. He has bundles of respect for the players and the players respect him for what he has done in the game.

“The last few months have been difficult and have not worked out as he would have wanted or planned but he has dug in and made sure the players have done the same.’’ He added: “I think he has done a brilliant job and we can only get better in the coming seasons.

“The manager, Eric Black and the staff have been affected in terms of what they want to do in training and just getting the right numbers to train but hopefully we can have a right good go again next season.

“I know it is good to bring young lads in and give them a chance but we want the team or the squad with everyone in it and everyone wanting to play and the last few months it has hit us badly.”

Bardsley’s double award on Wednesday tops off what has been a remarkable turnaround for the player whose future on Wearside was in serious doubt 12 months ago.

He had fallen out of favour with Bruce, who refused to offer the defender a new contract unless he saw an improvement in both his fitness and attitude.

Bardsley admits he was given the wake-up call he needed after falling out of love with the game, and says he owes Bruce for giving him the chance to prove he was worthy of a new contract.

He said: “I owe everything to him. This season he gave me the chance to play again and to enjoy my football again and getting the chance to play in the Premier League is what everyone wants to do.

“I went through a period which a lot of players go through.

“Players do get downhearted and ask themselves do they love the game anymore and sometimes you fall out of love with it.

“It is important you give yourself a kick up the backside and realise that it’s football, it is every kid’s dream to play for a living.

“He [Bruce] said he was disappointed in me but a number of things occurred last season that I was not really happy about.

“I was fed up with football, but over the summer I got myself in the best shape I could to give myself the best chance to come back and play.

“I wanted a smile back on my face. I lost that and if you ask the lads I am a lively character and I don’t like to moan or be morbid because I am a bubbly character but I lost a bit of that and it is nice to have that back and enjoy it like I am a kid again.

“I thought I was going a year ago. I didn’t feel part of the manager’s plans and felt it was time to move on and maybe have a fresh start and go somewhere else, but I had a chat with the manager, got my head down, got on with it and came back in decent shape.

“The manager showed me he had faith in me and that was so important.”