The Paraguayan international featured 13 times during the first half of the season but had made just four appearances in 2010 before playing his way back into contention with back-to-back appearances off the bench at Aston Villa and Liverpool last week.
The 30-year-old could make his first start since January in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match with Tottenham Hotspur after being given further time to acclimatise to life in the north-east.
Da Silva arrived at the Stadium of Light from Mexican side Toluca in August and has 19 senior appearances to his name.
seven months
Bruce said: “As I have said repeatedly, in my experience with the South Americans – it was the same with Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia and Hugo Rodallega and in particular Maynor Figueroa – it took them time.
“I didn’t play Figueroa for seven months until I gave him his debut.
“I probably threw Paulo in a bit quick, but we were struggling with injuries and suspensions at the time.
“But I think now, he is just starting to get to grips with the culture, the way the game is played and the intensity of it, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the next five or six weeks.
“I am sure he will be wanting to do well. He is going to the World Cup as captain of his country, which is a fantastic achievement for him as well.”
recent years
Bruce has mined a rich South American seam in recent years, but has learned to be patient.
He said: “It’s totally, totally different. In Mexico, it’s red hot, isn’t it? It’s at walking pace and everything comes to life in the last third.
“And in Mexico, they are not very big, so when he sees Didier Drogba and people like that, there’s a bit of a difference physically. But most of it is mental.
“Let’s be fair, within six months, he is fluent in the language, he’s moved his family here and the kids are now going to school and all of that.
“If we are being honest, we would all struggle with that. If we all had to go to Paraguay or Mexico, we might struggle as well.”
“He is just starting to get to grips with the culture, the way the game is played and the intensity of it” – Steve Bruce
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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