Source: Northern_Echo
Boost for Bruce as Gordon avoids knee op
SUNDERLAND received a huge injury boost yesterday when it was revealed goalkeeper Craig Gordon will not need surgery on his troublesome knee.[LNB] The Scotsman has not featured since the home defeat to Tottenham on February 12 after suffering a knock.[LNB] On Monday he was sent to Sweden to see knee specialist Prof Hakan Alfredson to determine the extent of the injury, but he returned yesterday with the news that he will not need to go under the knife.[LNB] That gives Black Cats boss Steve Bruce a big boost as it was feared surgery would keep the 28-year-old out for the rest of the season.[LNB] Instead Gordon has been sent back to Wearside with a programme of exercises to strengthen his knee after suffering pain in the joint.[LNB] Although an operation is not necessary, the keeper has been instructed to follow the recovery programme for a month before he is re-assessed before he can return to first-team action.[LNB] Bruce hopes the programme will prevent Gordon needing an operation on the problem in the future.[LNB] He's been given a course of exercises and we'll see how the injury responds to that,[LNB] Bruce said.[LNB] Hopefully he'll be okay then and he'll avoid the surgery which we all fear. It's a big period for Craig and I wish him the best of luck.[LNB] With Gordon set to be sidelined for a further few weeks, Simon Mignolet will be between the sticks when Liverpool visit the Stadium of Light a week on Saturday.[LNB] The 22-year-old deputised earlier in the season when Gordon suffered a broken arm in pre-season, and despite only joining the club in the summer, Mignolet impressed with a string of good performances.[LNB] He again won praise, and a man of the match award, in last Saturday's goalless draw with Arsenal at the Emirates and Bruce will hope his young keeper can continue to flourish while Gordon recovers from injury.[LNB]
