Lorik Cana: Cats will miss Cattermole

Oct 21 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND captain Lorik Cana has issued a get well soon message to the man he believes will be playing for England in the next two or three years.

Cana’s midfield partner Lee Cattermole is not expected to figure again this year after damaging medial knee ligaments in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool. As a newcomer to the Premier League this season, Albanian international Cana has been surprised by just how good a footballer Stockton-born Cattermole is.

And he admitted the Black Cats cannot afford to be without a player of his quality for too long.

“I didn’t know a lot about Lee before I came here,” said the 26-year-old. “When I was signing we talked about Lee with the manager (Steve Bruce) and Eric Black (his assistant) so I knew what type of player he is.

“I was really surprised to find out he is only 21 because already he has fantastic quality.

“He will be one of the best midfielders in England in two or three years. I think he can play for England. Maybe the European Championships in two years or even after that, but I think he is going to be part of the national team.”

Cattermole already captains England Under-21s, but a style of play built more on aggression than elegance and a career spent with unglamorous sides like Middlesbrough, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland have combined to ensure he is seldom talked about as a future full international.