SULLEY Muntari thought he was playing one of his last games for Sunderland before returning to Inter Milan, but after his part in the Black Cats’ 2-1 win at Bolton, Steve Bruce has hinted that he may yet bring the Ghanaian to Wearside permanently.

Reports last week suggested that Bruce would not be seeking a deal for Muntari, and that the player had already been informed. And, it certainly showed during last week’s defeat to Fulham, with the former Portsmouth midfielder at times cutting a dejected figure in the middle of the park.

But, at the Reebok Stadium, Muntari made an eight-minute cameo and, receiving Stephane Sessegnon’s pass, saw his shot from the angle bundled over the line by Zat Knight.

It will be credited as a Knight own goal, but Muntari’s part in Bolton’s downfall did not go unnoticed by the 4,500 travelling Sunderland supporters, who had originally given the midfielder a lukewarm reception after he came on in place of Steed Malbranque in the 82nd minute.

Bruce said: “There’s a deal in place for Muntari, but nothing’s been finalised as we speak. We’ll make a decision at the end of the season.

“I think the problem that Sulley has found is that he hasn’t played for six months.

“He won the Champions League and then I don’t think he’s found himself in the team at Inter, and he came to us without playing for six months.

“For me, he’s just getting to the fitness levels you require to play in the Premier League and I think that’s the problem for him. We all know he’s a very decent footballer.”

Bruce had seen his side’s first-half lead through Bolo Zenden cancelled out by an 87th-minute Ivan Klasnic goal, and must surely have thought a win was out of the question until Muntari struck.

Bolton had worked hard to get themselves back in the game, and, in an even encounter, Sunderland were somewhat fortunate to escape with the victory.

But Bruce said: “We needed a bit of luck, we’ve had a dreadful run with the injuries and the results, but Bolton has always been a happy hunting ground for me.”

Visitors Sunderland had not won on the road since beating Blackpool in January, and Bruce’s injury list had grown by two in midweek with the injuries to Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole – with Bruce employing Ahmed Elmohamady as an emergency striker. But

Sunderland were the brighter side in the first half, showing signs of real invention in a midfield anchored well by Jack Colback and Jordan Henderson.

Bolton had their chances though. After 11 minutes, Simon Mignolet had denied Matt Taylor from point-blank range, and, five minutes before half-time Daniel Sturridge hitting the bar and the on-loan Chelsea striker almost got to a loose ball from Simon Mignolet’s error after a Matt Taylor shot.

But it was Sunderland, with a break of their own, who went in front, and not without controversy. Bolton had appealed for a penalty, claiming that Chung Young Lee had been felled by Malbranque, but the Black Cats poured forward, Sessegnon releasing Zenden with a perfect through-ball.

The Dutchman sprinted clear of the defence, rounded Jussi Jaaskelainen and slotted home from a tight angle.

Bolton spurned a fine chance to restore parity on 66 minutes when Lee looped a shot over the bar after Phil Bardsley had blocked Sturridge’s shot on the line.

Ten minutes from time, substitute Rodrigo fired a 20-yard shot which Mignolet did well to paw away.

Rodrigo had been brought on with Klasnic after 76 minutes, and both substitutes combined with three minutes left, Rodrigo’s perfect cross from the left found Klasnic at the back post, who headed across goal past Mignolet.

Bolton could well have won the game a minute later when a Davies volley was headed over the bar by Bardsley.

However, Sunderland were not finished, and Muntari received Sessegnon’s ball wide left, angled a shot through the tightest of gaps, and wheeled away in celebration when Knight unwittingly gave the travelling Sunderland support much to cheer.

Mathematically, the win cemented Sunderland’s place in the Premier League, and Bruce paid tribute to his club’s supporters, who have, in their unerring sense of duty, continued to support their team through a wretched spell which has seen them win just twice since January.

“Thankfully we’re in the Premier League, we need one more point and that will be our third best finish in 55 years,” Bruce said.

“There’s been a little bit of improvement despite the horrific run.

“There’s a huge expectation here. It’s massive and it’s caused by the supporters that we’ve got. When you see 4,500 of them roll up – how many other teams will have 4,500 coming when we haven’t won away for three months? It’s staggering the support, the loyalty, and we need a team to match their lofty ambitions.

The fact that Bolton ended the game with four strikers on the pitch compared to Sunderland’s zero was not lost on the former Manchester United skipper.

“If you’re missing six or seven you’re going to struggle. I know that if I took that out of Bolton they would struggle. Davies, Cahill, Elmander gone? They’d struggle.

“We’ve limped over the line but we’ve won two out of three which has given us a lifeline.”