SUNDERLAND, England - Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari has been told he won't be able to make a permanent move to English Premier League club Sunderland.

SUNDERLAND, England - Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari has been told he won't be able to make a permanent move to English Premier League club Sunderland.

Mwaruwari spent the second half of the season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Manchester City but, though Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was happy with his performances, he has ruled out signing him on a permanent basis. The 31-year-old failed to score in his eight appearances for Sunderland and also netted only once for City this season.

"Benjani was a good loan signing for us at the time because we needed cover in case of injuries," Bruce said.

"In the end, he didn't play many games, but the extra competition brought the best out of the other lads."

With little chance of a first-team place at big-spending City, Mwaruwari, who moved to Eastlands from Portsmouth in 2008, is likely to spend the close season looking for another club. - Sapa-AFP