Injury jinxed Craig Gordon fears his season may be oven

May 6 2009 The Journal

CRAIG Gordon will find out today whether the “worst season” of his professional career is over - and he admits he is fearing the worst.

The Scotland international will see specialists today to assess the damage to his knee, with Gordon potentially facing an operation and a premature end to an injury-jinxed campaign.

He retains a glimmer of hope that he may be involved before the season ends this month but there are fears that Gordon has injured knee cartilage, which would involve a lengthy period on the sidelines and a long rehabilitation.

The £9m man has already been written out of Scotland’s summer training camp as he contemplates the latest twist of a frustrating campaign.

Gordon has already missed several months with an ankle injury that was aggravated when former boss Roy Keane rushed him back into the team, and had only just won his place in the team back when he was forced out of the West Bromwich Albion game last month.

“I’m struggling still. I’m trying to get back as soon as possible. I will see someone in the next couple of days to see the extent of the damage and then we will see what we will do about it,” he said.

“It’s automatic to fear the worst. There might be an operation and we will find out whether that is required.

“It’s a possibility that it is the knee cartilage but I’m trying to remain positive.

“It’s been the worst season of my career for injuries. I have never had anything like this at any stage. I have hardly missed a game in my career, so to have two lengthy injuries back to back is disappointing.

“When you come to a new club in the first couple of years you want to stamp your authority on things and I have been in and out, which has not been ideal.

“So let’s get this season over and done with, stay in the Premier League and look forward to next season to come back stronger.”

Gordon was one of a healthy turnout of Sunderland players at last night’s Supporters Player of the Year awards.