Source: Northern_Echo
Bruce will turn to Jordan
LEE CATTERMOLE could be sidelined until the new year, but Sunderland manager Steve Bruce feels that Jordan Henderson can prove a more than adequate back-up for the £6m man.
Cattermole saw a specialist yesterday and received mixed news about his knee injury.
On the plus side the damage is to the medial ligaments rather than cruciate, but he has been warned not to expect to play Premier League football for anywhere between eight and 12 weeks.
Sunderland will carry out a further assessment this morning on the 21-year-old when the swelling on his knee has subsided. He limped off after an hour of Sunderlands 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Henderson impressed in midfield during the second half and Bruce feels he can help fill the void left by the injury to Cattermole.
Jordan is only 19, said Bruce. Hes got a fantastic future, the kid. Hes everything you could hope for in a midfield player and he will mature.
If youre good enough, youre old enough and hes definitely good enough to start for me. Hes just got to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground.
Henderson is likely to find himself given further opportunities in light of the injury sustained by Cattermole, with new signing Bolo Zenden in direct competition to partner Lorik Cana at the heart of the Sunderland midfield.
Sunderlands impressive start to the campaign has seen them climb to seventh following their fifth home win in a row. Victory at Birmingham on Saturday could be enough to see them break into the top four.
But it has not just been in midfield where Sunderland have impressed, with Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones forming an understanding up front and the defence growing in confidence ahead of Craig Gordon.
Gordon, whose form has been patchy since his £9m move from Hearts in August 2007, has had to overcome a series of injury problems, but his displays have reached new levels of consistency this season, culminating in his show of good handling and shot-stopping.
Craig had to make one save against Liverpool, that contribution was a double save and he did it fantastically well, said Bruce. Hes another one were delighted with. He had a bad time here last year, but he came back with an injury, not really fit and it maybe took a chunk out of his confidence. At the moment he looks like a really top, top goalkeeper.
The victory over Liverpool arrived courtesy of Darren Bents bizarre goal, which appeared to be deflected off a combination of beach ball and Glen Johnsons right foot.
The rule book states that the referee should stop, suspend or abandon the match because of outside interference of any kind, but referee Mike Jones allowed the goal to stand.
There were no complaints immediately after the match from Liverpools players or manager, Rafael Benitez, but Jones has been struck off the Premier League list for this weekend.
He will now officiate the Championship game between Peterborough United and Scunthorpe.
