SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce doesn't expect David Healy and Daryl Murphy to take time to settle into the Blues team.Both are expected to feature today when Town play Middlesbrough at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm) in a Championship fixture with Ipswich looking to extend their unbeaten home run to 10 games.

Elvin King

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce doesn't expect David Healy and Daryl Murphy to take time to settle into the Blues team.

Both are expected to feature today when Town play Middlesbrough at Portman Road (kick-off 3pm) in a Championship fixture with Ipswich looking to extend their unbeaten home run to 10 games.

Bruce was always happy to allow Healy and Murphy to be loaned out during the January transfer window if the right offers came in, and he feels the two strikers will benefit from joining up again with former Black Cats teammates.

“For one reason or another, it just hasn't happened for Daryl and David at this club,” said Bruce.

“They've been at Sunderland a long time now and I think it was in both their best interests to take up the options that presented themselves.

“There'll be a few familiar faces at Ipswich, so it should be easy for them to settle in and I think the moves will be genuinely good for them.

“It's very easy for players to lose their way in their careers when they go long spells without playing.

“I've seen it before though, that players go out on loan or make a permanent move that's right for them and it just gives them a new lease of life.

“Hopefully that will happen with David and Daryl because they go with our blessings and we wish them all the best.”

Bruce is a former team mate of Keane's at Manchester United, and the two have linked up a number of times since Keane took over at Portman Road last April.

Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards and Jack Colback preceded Healy and Murphy down the A1 and A14 - a total of 279 miles - to Ipswich.

Talking of his new signings, Keane said: “As soon as I spoke to them both they were keen to come here.

“That's a plus. You can't be dragging players to a football club. They either want to come or they don't.

“I hope they'll feel they've got something to prove and come here fresh and hungry.

“We've got good competition but we just haven't had the right combination up front.

“I've good players individually, but none of them have struck it off just yet.”

Keane is searching more than just goals from Healy, who he sees as a six-yard poacher, and Murphy, who can play up front or on the left.

“When you sign a player you're not just talking about what they do on the pitch but off it.

“I know what these boys are about and I know they're decent lads.”