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Sbragia glad to add experience

Image: Sbragia: Happy with signings

Ricky Sbragia believes Tal Ben Haim and Calum Davenport will bring much-needed experience to his defence.

Black Cats boss hails Ben Haim and Davenport

Ricky Sbragia believes Tal Ben Haim and Calum Davenport will bring much-needed experience to his Sunderland defence. Ben Haim joined the Black Cats on loan from Manchester City on Sunday and West Ham centre-back Davenport agreed a similar deal before the transfer deadline. Both players will stay at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season and help Sunderland in their battle against relegation. Sbragia is thrilled to have secured the duo and hopes they can shore up a defence that has conceded 33 goals in the Premier League. "I have known Tal Ben Haim from my Bolton days," Sbragia told Sky Sports News. "I spent about two-and-a-half years with him and he's got a lot of experience, international-wise as well.

Important

"He can play across the back four and he can also play in midfield, so he is an important player for us and we are really pleased we have got him because we thought we may have just lost out on him. "Calum has come in and again he's got experience. He's played a number of games this year for West Ham. "We had a situation against Newcastle where we only had four fit defenders so he is another experienced player for us and I am really looking forward to working with him." Sbragia is relieved the transfer window has shut as the speculation surrounding a number of his players can now stop. He explained: "I am really glad we can now focus on the football. We have had a lot of enquiries and the majority of them we rejected. "We can have a chat with them now and say 'we have got an important three months coming up, let's get on with it'."

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