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Steve Bruce says he won't make the same mistake as Alan Pardew and promise he will never sell Jordan Henderson.

The Sunderland boss wants to "protect" Henderson after he was moved back into the England U21 squad following his senior debut last year.

After Andy Carroll's £35 million switch to Liverpool this week, Henderson is the next bright young star to attract interest from the Premier League big guns.

Sunderland hope to keep the 22-year-old midfielder for a couple more seasons and help him develop with first team football.

Senior sources at Sunderland say that Henderson was unsettled earlier in the season, and he has split with his former agent in acrimonious circumstances.

But Bruce, says he is fighting a battle to keep him as long as possible. He said: "I am not going to sit here like Alan Pardew and say he is definitely not for sale and have it chronicled on February 5, 2011 ... "he's not for sale, he's not for sale and I've got the owner's backing and it's the reason why I've come to the club.

"I have said all along that every player whether you're Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney you have your price and some times as a manager we manage the team - of course you do - and you have an input with the people who employ us, but we all know it is part of football and you can say it as much as you like.

"But for me the great thing with Jordan is his father and the lad himself are level-headed enough to realise and understand is that the worst thing that could happen to him would be if he goes and disappears and he might end up not playing for 18 months and is sitting on the bench.

"I can give you an example - Adam Johnson. He's injured at the moment, but he was playing sporadically. I think the vital thing for me is that Jordan is sensible and I stress again, he is with Sunderland. But there will be a time when he goes. Unfortunately. But in the meantime, no.

"He is only 20 and we talk about him as if he is a seasoned pro. It is up to us to protect him a bit. There are times I could have and should have left him out and he has not had a break for 18 months which is unbelievable for a young lad.

"We have asked him to keep playing because of the injuries and this constant talk and speculation, I think the supporters are fed up with it. He has gone back with the under 21s but he is not the only one. We have to be careful with the lad and not forget he is only 20. I think he will be an England regular for years to come."

Henderson will form a new midfield partnership with Sulley Muntari today. The on loan Inter Milan star will make his debut and hopes to seal a permanent deal in the summer... despite taking a 30pc pay cut to head to the North East.

Bruce joked: "He's gone from Milan to the North East so we took him round the Mecca bingo the other night! He went for £17m and was Mourinho's second signing at Inter. Look what he has done in two and a half years, won the Champions League and Italian league twice.

"He is a very good player and that is why we have brought him in. We might have to thrown him in at the deep end and let him swim. The biggest thing and most pleasing thing for me 18 months ago we could not have signed a player like him.

"That is the success of the squad if you are struggling at the bottom end it is difficult to attract players and the higher up the table the easier it is. I am delighted he has come here."