Lee Cattermole return to boost Black Cats

Dec 10 2009 By Stuart Rayner, The Journal

SUNDERLAND are set to receive an early Christmas present next week with Lee Cattermole due to return to full training.

But while Steve Bruce is delighted by his £6m signing’s progress, the Black Cats’ boss is determined to make sure he is not broken by Boxing Day. The combative midfielder is still not expected to play until after the festive period but the sight of him in a first-team session for the first time since October’s win over Liverpool will lift morale, which has taken a battering after two poor away performances.

Cattermole’s presence was missed in the defeats to Wigan and Fulham, as Bruce acknowledged. The Teessider’s ball-winning style is ideally suited to away matches – the big failing in Sunderland’s otherwise encouraging start to the season.

"We’re expecting Lee to join in training with the first-team squad within the next seven days, fingers crossed," said Bruce. Delighted though he is to see the England Under-21 international back, Bruce is determined not to rush him. "We will just have to make sure he is ready," he warned.

"Any time you have a medial ligament injury like he has, you have got to be a little bit careful. The last thing we want to do is bring him back too quickly. He has been absolutely fantastic

in training. He has not joined in with us, but he is working extremely hard with the physios."

Cattermole has not played since damaging his medial knee ligaments in the 1-0 win over Liverpool, sealed when Darren Bent’s shot bounced in off a beach ball.

A series of early-season injuries have so far limited Cattermole’s Sunderland career to eight starts, finishing only half of them.

A target for him is the FA Cup third round on January 2. The Black Cats entertain Barrow, and the Conference side could provide an ideal opportunity to ease him back into action.

The good news on Cattermole is welcome relief from all the doom and gloom about Sunderland’s form away from Wearside, where they have won just one of their previous 18 league games.

Veteran Boudewijn Zenden admits the Black Cats have let their supporters down, but is refusing to allow the Wearsiders’ defence to be made scapegoats.