Following an impressive Premier League debut against Birmingham, Elmohamady started again in the 1-0 defeat at West Brom, before being replaced on 66 minutes.

While keeping the faith in his summer recruits, Bruce believes that the newcomers need time to adapt at the Stadium of Light.

"We have done a lot - probably too much again - and when you do make a lot of changes, like Saturday for example, people like Simon Mignolet and Cristian Riveros and Ahmed Elmohamady, the one thing they all need is time," he said.

"We have sort of thrown them in at the deep end because of necessity, and that's maybe a bit unfair on them.

"Every time when you go away and bring a player in from abroad, you must do one thing, give them time. Wilson Palacios, for example, was six months, Maynor Figueroa was 12 months before I put him in."

Sunderland, who only managed a single point from their first two games, face League One side Colchester in the Carling Cup second round on Tuesday.