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Sunderland have signed Manchester City full-back on loan for the rest of the season.

The former Chelsea defender, 31, has only played once for City manager Roberto Mancini this season - in a .

Capped 36 times for England, Bridge was signed by Mark Hughes in the January transfer window of 2009.

"I'm hoping that with Wayne's ability and experience he can be a big help," said Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill.

"I'm very pleased to have him here and with the number of injuries we've sustained recently I'm sure he'll be a great help to us."

The arrival of Aleksander Kolarov at City limited Bridge's opportunities and he had a loan spell at West Ham last season, but has only managed 78 minutes - in that Cup tie, in which he was substituted - for City's first team this season.

O'Neill moved for the experienced left-back after his defensive resources were further stretched by the loss of Wes Brown to a suspected medial ligament injury at the weekend.

Bridge joined Chelsea from his home-town club Southampton for £7m in July 2003 before his £12m switch to City.

But he has made only 58 appearances in three years at the Etihad Stadium.