LEE Cattermole is looking at Saturday’s visit of Chelsea as a “fresh start” to Sunderland’s season, and hopes Nicklas Bendtner will provide the buzz to finally get it going.

The Black Cats have gone into September with no wins and only one goal from four matches. There were defeats in the Wear-Tyne derby and the Carling Cup – a competition they could have expected a good run in.

Building momentum in the opening weeks has been difficult with a round of internationals in the lead-up, another now, and a worldwide transfer window.

But Cattermole thinks the break could have worked in Sunderland’s favour, particularly as they used it to sign Arsenal’s Bendtner on a season-long loan. “I’ve always liked him,” said the Black Cats skipper. “He’s a big presence, he’s got an attitude about him.

“I don’t know him as a person but as a player he’s got ability.

“You don’t play for Arsenal if you don’t. Hopefully we can get the best out of him as a team and maybe he can get the best out of a couple of other players.” Strong with a good touch, 6ft 5in Bendtner – who scored twice for Denmark against Norway last night – brings experience to the stable of strikers on Wearside.

Despite making the majority of his Arsenal appearances from the bench, he has 40 Premier League starts – 40 more than Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won. Asamoah Gyan has cut a disillusioned figure recently amid rumours of moves to Tottenham Hotspur, Turkey or Marseille.

He and deeper-lying partner Stéphane Sessègnon are yet to score this season, despite the latter’s impressive pre-season.

“I don’t know how much of an out-and-out striker Stéphane is,” Cattermole reflected. “He does really well in the hole, but I’m not sure how many goals he’ll get us. There was a lot of pressure on Asa being the only experienced striker.