Injury jinxed Craig Gordon fears his season may be oven

May 6 2009 The Journal

The supremely consistent Danny Collins scooped the award while Jordan Henderson, currently recovering from a foot injury, won the award for Young Player of the Season after impressing during a loan spell at Coventry City.

The presence of several of the Black Cats players at a fans’ event should answer a few of the questions about players ‘caring’ about the club’s plight, and it is obvious that Gordon recognises the importance of staying in the Premier League. “Staying in the division is huge,” he said. “For the players, the fans and the club here behind the scenes, there’s such a difference in the money side of things if you drop down and that affects what the club will be able to spend.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what could happen and that’s why we have to stay focused on the job in hand. The last couple of weeks have been disappointing results and performances, so we are due a big one and to get the points that would climb us away. Everyone is

struggling at this time but you hope we are big enough to get that win.” Gordon’s absence from the Sunderland starting line-up is also a blow for his international hopes.

With Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor in exile, Gordon was in line to assume his country’s number one jersey – but he now looks set to miss the training camp.

“I have to stay fully focused on getting back fully fit for pre-season and that’s my only focus,” he said.

“If I’m playing well at Sunderland the international scene will take care if itself.”

:: SUNDERLAND reserves last night won 3-0 at Hull City.