Return of Lee Cattermole can't come quickly enough

Dec 15 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

STEVE Bruce believes that the imminent return of Lee Cattermole will give his Sunderland side an “instant lift” after claiming his midfield general epitomises everything he wants in a footballer.

Cattermole returned to first team training over the weekend and although tonight’s visit of in-form Aston Villa has come too soon he is likely to play 45 minutes for the reserves against Hartlepool United on Wednesday with a view to being back on the bench at Manchester City. His return after an eight-week absence can’t come soon enough for Bruce, who said his desire and determination “lit up” a downbeat Black Cats’ training session on Sunday.

Cattermole is the physical embodiment of the footballing values that Bruce wants his Sunderland side to represent – and it is worth pointing out that the Black Cats have managed just one win in eight games since the midfielder suffered his knee injury. Bruce has made him the figurehead of his Sunderland side and he regards Cattermole’s return a month ahead of schedule of further evidence of his importance to the cause. “It was doom and gloom around here yesterday morning as you would expect but he lit up training because of his hunger to be involved. I knew he would give me this problem which is a great problem,” he said.

“We talked about 12 weeks – he has been eight weeks. He has worked like a beast to be in there. I was asked at the outset would we miss him.It is fair to say the team looks far better when he is in it.

“It is probably the first injury he’s had and it was a freak one where his leg got caught underneath a midfielder. Certainly he epitomises what I want in a footballer. He is desperate to go and train and desperate to play because he enjoys it that much.”

Although Bruce is anxious not to rush him back before he is ready, tomorrow’s reserve game is the logical next step. If he comes through that, a place on the bench at Eastlands seems likely. He could play 45 minutes against Hartlepool in the reserves on Wednesday and if he comes through that he will be in contention (for Saturday),” he said.

“I was asked whether we would miss him and it is unfair to talk about just one player but we haven’t looked quite the same without his competitive skills that he has in abundance.”

DESPITE the euphoria of Aston Villa’s weekend win at Old Trafford Martin O’Neill is aware Sunderland will provide a tough test at the Stadium of Light tonight, recalling Villa needed penalties to win the Carling Cup tie between the clubs last month.

He said: “We won on penalties in the Carling Cup and last season we did very well to win the league game. It will be difficult, no question about that. Sunderland are strong.”