Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Crouch heads for Cats talks

16 Jul 2009 - 13:26:00

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England striker Peter Crouch is reported to have travelled to Sunderland for talks with the Black Cats over a proposed £12million transfer from Portsmouth.

The 28-year-old former Liverpool forward's future at Fratton Park has been in doubt following recent suggestions that the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the south coast club was unsettling him.

On Wednesday, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce revealed his club were in talks with Pompey and Crouch is now believed to have been given permission to head for Wearside to discuss personal terms.

Meanwhile, Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon may miss the start of the season with a knee problem.

The Scotland international missed the final few games of the last campaign with the injury and underwent surgery in May.

He is now facing a race against time to be fit for the Premier League curtain-raiser against Bolton Wanderers on August 15.

"Craig's not recovered yet," admitted Bruce. "It's a worry after the operation he had.

"It's not a huge worry, he'll be okay, but it's a worry in terms of whether he will be ready for the start of the season. His knee is still not right."