Big season ahead for the skipper, come on Catts. LEE Cattermole says he is relishing the chance to start a fresh campaign with a full pre-season behind him. The Sunderland skipper is due to step up his fitness and sharpness levels again tonight when he leads the Black Cats out at Victoria Park for Ritchie Humphreysâ testimonial match. But he says he has been thrilled to have got up a proper run-up to a new season for the first time in years. âThe last three seasons have not been ideal for me in terms of pre-season preparations,â he told the Echo. âIâve moved clubs twice in that time, Iâve been involved with England Under 21s over the summer of one season and Iâve had knocks and niggles to contend with. âSo to come through this summer feeling fine from the start has been great. âI missed a large chunk of last season with a back injury but, touch wood, everything has been great so far with no strains or knocks or anything. âItâs great for me because pre-season is so important in terms of getting you prepared and for someone â if you miss out on a pre-season or even a part of it, you can find yourself playing catch up. âIâve never been an injury-prone player in my career but with the setbacks Iâve had since joining Sunderland I feel like Iâve been playing catch up for the better part of 18 months. âThe good thing is that Iâll be ready for the game against Liverpool and by the third or fourth game of the season I should be really firing on all cylinders.â Cattermole and his team-mates will take another step closer to peak fitness when they get they go through their paces against Hartlepool tonight. Didn't quite get this bit though, that's what pre-season is for, he best be ready for the mags. Come on Catts.
Love Catts (Here's hoping that when he gets that first booking he gives his head a shake and thinks about the next push, kick, pull, tackle, bad language, head butt, leg breaker) to bits. This is going to be a big season for him with all the quality we have in the middle of the park.
