JOHN TERRY has convinced League One striker James Hanson that he can leave Sunderland’s defenders battered and bruised in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Bradford City.

Hanson tormented Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the previous round and centre-backs Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill were left wondering what had hit them.

The powerful lower league front-man, who scored the winning goal for Bradford against MK Dons on Monday night, is now looking to do the same when he comes up against John O’Shea and Santiago Vergini at Valley Parade.

After learning how former England skipper Terry was full of admiration for his display in Bradford’s 4-2 win over Jose Mourinho’s team in round four, Hanson’s optimism that he can make life a misery for Sunderland could not be higher.

The 27-year-old learned of Terry’s comments from former Sunderland academy youngster Billy Knott, who is a friend of the Chelsea skipper and is now a key part of the team Thornaby-born Phil Parkinson has led to within a point of the League One play-off zone.

Hanson, speaking to The Northern Echo’s sister paper the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, said: “John Terry was saying (through text messages to Knott) what a good player Hanson is and how there were a few in the Chelsea treatment room because of me. He also said they’d watched DVDs of Bradford and how good they thought I was in the air.

“It just shows that at the top level they still take that much interest and were preparing for the game as seriously as us. But it’s nice to know that he rates me like that. It has certainly given me a little bit of confidence.”

While Bradford, whose awful pitch should give the West Yorkshire club a slight advantage, are hopeful of inflicting another shock on Premier League opposition, Sunderland’s morale was further dented by the midweek defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

Gus Poyet’s critical post-match comments about the Sunderland fans has not helped the situation either, with many fans beginning to question whether the Uruguayan is still the right man to take them forward.

Poyet will be keen to avoid a further damaging defeat and Hanson’s strike partner, the former Sunderland striker Jon Stead, will not be looking to go out with a point to prove to Black Cats supporters.

Stead, signed from Huddersfield, was superb against Chelsea but he has mixed memories of his time at the Stadium of Light, where it took him until the April to break his scoring drought during that ill-fated 15-point relegation season.

The 31-year-old said: “I have many memories from my time at Sunderland – unfortunately not all of them were great. We had a bit of a struggling side in the Premier League during my time there and I don’t think I really fulfilled what I am to do there either.

“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove going up against an old club. I just want to play as I know I can and hopefully help us to progress to the next round.

“I have a feeling that the stadium will be bouncing and we’ll have an unbelievable atmosphere to savour. The lads will be bang up for it. It is a cup competition so anything can happen. We will be giving it a right go on Sunday and we have nothing to lose.”

Sunderland will be without key midfielder Lee Cattermole again, but he is due to return to training on Monday. There are still doubts surrounding his knee problem, but surgery was not required so they are keen to see how he responds to training again.

Poyet should, though, have both Emanuele Giaccherini and Jack Rodwell available for the trip. The latter could be in contention to start in central midfield as Sunderland look for a fresh approach.