Cattermole close to training return

07 March 2011 11:00
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping skipper Lee Cattermole will train with his team-mates later this week as he prepares for his latest comeback from injury. The 22-year-old midfielder has not played since the 2-0 home defeat by Blackpool on December 28 because of a back problem which required complete rest. Specialists warned Cattermole that the injury could develop into a stress fracture if he did not sit out and, having already seen his captain miss a significant proportion of his time on Wearside because of fitness concerns, Bruce acted on that advice. However, the £6million signing from Wigan has now resumed light training and is expected to step up his work over the next few days to hand his manager a boost in the face of continuing injury problems. Bruce said: "He's training and we hope by the middle of this week that he's joining in. "He's out there training and physically working - but he has been out 10 weeks as well now. It doesn't get any better, week in, week out, to be honest."

Source: PA