Cattermole to return

Great news lads, the Catts is coming back.

Taken from todays Echo.

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LEE CATTERMOLE faces his first game in three months this weekend when Sunderland’s skipper takes part in a training ground practice match.

The 22-year-old has been on the sidelines since Christmas with a back injury that required rest to ensure it did not develop into a stress fracture.

Sunderland have missed the influential midfielder. but he takes the first steps on his comeback on Saturday morning with an in-house training game at the Academy of Light.

Cattermole is also expected to play in Sunderland’s reserve clash at Manchester United next Thursday and has an outside chance of being involved for Liverpool’s visit to Wearside three days later.

Sunderland’s trip to Manchester City on April 3 is a more likely return for the ex-Middlesbrough player though, whose injury stemmed from a innocuous knee to the back.

“We’re going to have a practice game in training on Saturday involving most of the squad and that will give some of the returning players chance to get a little match fitness,” said Bruce.

“Catts is working with a personal fitness trainer at the moment, but he will play in the game this weekend and if he comes through that okay, we will look at involving him in the reserves against Man U.

“He has a chance of being in the squad for the Liverpool game, but then there is a fortnight before we play Man City and we will hope to get another couple of games into him in that time so he will be ready to face City.”

The training game will also provide vital match practice for four of Sunderland’s other returning absentees.

Nedum Onuoha and Bolo Zenden resumed training on Monday after missing two games with calf problems and should be involved against Liverpool.

Danny Welbeck, who played the final 20 minutes at Arsenal last weekend, and Fraizer Campbell, who made his comeback in the reserves this week from a six-month lay-off, are also due to feature.

Bruce said: “I’ll just mix it up and pick two sides – it’s really just a game for Catts, Fraizer, Bolo and Nedum to help them with their comebacks.

“Bolo and Nedum have both trained all week and they are fine.

“There’s still another 10 days to go until the Liverpool game so hopefully they will be fit and come into contention.

“Fraizer did really well in the reserves on Tuesday and this is another step on the road for him too.”

But the game comes too early for Michael Turner and David Meyler, both on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.

Bruce said: “We’re hoping that Michael will be fit to return to training in the next 10 days.

“David is still a couple of weeks away from joining in training but the good news is that the medical people have had a look inside the knee and everything seems to be structurally sound.”

 

Great news. We've missed him in the middle. How long till gets a yellow card?

 

All good news and will give us that needed kick to the end of the season.

 

Would be great if we could watch this game.........

 

cracking news, anyone have a clue what the midfield will be, cos someone gonna lose their place

 

The mind boggles mate, some headache for Brucey though.

 

catts has to play, same as sess, that leaves two, i seem to be in a minority of wanting to keep young jordan and with catts back he'll be out wide again, that leaves one, and most will say sully but i hope its steed, guess i'll be in the minority again there again. oh to be a football manager

 

Slowly we are looking stronger and stronger, I know injuries is part of the season but imagine if for 1 season we just have most people fit then who knows what might happen

 

Encouraging news so let's hope we finish the remaining games of the season really strong and consolidate a top 10 finish.

 

If Catts plays then almost definitely he'll play the holding role? Hendo to play wide right with Sess wide left, Muntari as playmaker in the middle with Wellbeck, Gyan up front. I agree with you about Steed, i love him but Muntari can pick out that killer pass that we have been lacking this season and with the pace of Wellbeck & Gyan up front i think we'd be quite formidable.

 

a force to be reckoned with mate, everyone loves steed but most will pick muntari (then we have bolo) as muntari is the new blood i expect bruce to pick him over steed, but no matter which way he goes we have 3 players for that last spot, so reckon were doing ok, so theres the great debate sully or STEEEEED? (guess who im favouring haha)

 

I expect as it is a practice match he will chop and change the midfield to look at the various options. I only hope no one gets injured as we have had a few of those during training.

 

cant begin to unpik the emerging midfield permutations at the moment but this really heart warmin nw bothon Ct and the other walkig wounded

 

The more hands on deck the better . I was thinking we may only pick up another 12 points , but with the guys we have got coming back I reckon 55 points should be a good bench mark for us . WE really do have a cracking squad . Onwards and upwards HA`WAY THE LADS .

 

Its funny how Cattermole was judged to be a liability after his early season red cards. Now after a long lay off most realise just how important he is to us!!

 

Which for me begs the question "should we be looking at back up for Catts in the summer?"

We've proved already this season that without both Catts and Meyler we are exposed in that defensive role.

 

We have missed Catts more than anyone else this season,but we have had more than our fair share of injuries again this season.Yes,we need another holding midfielder,but we are in a better position this year than we were last.

 

Sign of a good player playing for a better manger if you were to ask me