Lorik Cana: Cats will miss Cattermole

Oct 21 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

If the news on Cattermole was grim for a club which has chosen to have one of the smallest squads in the Premier League this season, Bruce pointed out that it could have been worse still.

“We think it will be at least 12 weeks for Catts,” the manager said. “He’s done his medial ligament. It’s not good news, but it’s the best we could have hoped.

“We were all praying he had not done his cruciate and damaged cartilage, which thankfully he hasn’t – but he’s still out for the best part of three months.”

Having visited a specialist on Monday about the problem, Cattermole’s rehabilitation is already under way.

“The good news is Lee doesn’t require an operation, meaning he can remain at the academy throughout,” Sunderland club doctor Glenn Rae told the Black Cats’ official website. “He is in the process of beginning his rehab with the medical staff we have on site.”

Meanwhile, £10m striker Darren Bent says he is full of confidence after eight goals in his first nine Premier League games for Sunderland have made him the division’s joint-top scorer.

“It was a difficult two years (at his previous club, Tottenham Hotspur) where things weren’t going for me,” Bent said. “Now I feel like I’m going to score and hit the target every time.”