The former Manchester United favourite missed the whole of last season with a knee injury after breaking down in his comeback game in pre-season a year ago.
In direct contrast to his agony in the Far East 12 months ago, Brown scored in Sunderland’s impressive 3-1 win over Spurs in Hong Kong today.
Carrying on: Wes Brown rejected an offer to quit the game at the end of last season
And manager Paolo Di Canio revealed the 33-year-old former England international turned down the offer to end his career prematurely and take a pay-off from Sunderland to cover the final two years of his contract.
The Sunderland manager said: 'The club had a conservation with him, but with his strong character, he said ‘I feel a footballer, I want to stay here and prove it’.
The Sunderland manager said: 'The club had a conservation with him, but with his strong character, he said ‘I feel a footballer, I want to stay here and prove it’.
Encouraged: Manager Paolo Di Canio said Brown 'never stops' in training'Because I’m an intelligent manager, I didn’t have any preclusion to anyone doing that.
'He was the perfect professional to have in a squad and what a player, he hasn’t stopped for one minute in a training session.
'My pre-season is very tough, but he hasn’t had any problems.'
