Source: Northern_Echo
Fit-again Gordon is hoping for a recall
FIT-AGAIN Craig Gordon faces a battle for the Sunderland goalkeeper's jersey after the encouraging performances of Simon Mignolet.[LNB] Gordon made a successful return to action on Monday evening, playing 90 minutes for the reserves against Aston Villa.[LNB] The Scottish international broke an arm during training in July, sufferring a reccurrence of the injury sustained after a challenge with Jermain Defoe at Tottenham last November.[LNB] Following his comeback from injury last time, the titanium plate in his arm was removed, but the replacement plate will remain in the 27- year-old's arm for the rest of his career.[LNB] Gordon was on the bench for Sunderland's 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Saturday, but announced yesterday he was pushing for a place in the starting line-up when Manchester United visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday.[LNB] We'll have to see if this weekend is too soon, it's up to the manager. If he thinks one reserve game is enough to put me back in the first team, that is up to him, Gordon said.[LNB] If he doesn't, then so be it, but if he calls upon me I'll be ready.[LNB] But manager Steve Bruce last night hinted that Gordon's return is no formality.[LNB] Bruce said: With Simon's form being as it is, it would be stupid to rush Craig back.[LNB] The competition is fierce at the moment. As a manager I want two people in every position.[LNB] Gordon and Mignolet train together every day, but the £9m man is determined to look after number one when it comes to team selection.[LNB] Gordon said: Simon has done very well, but I want that jersey back. Simon has done everything that has been asked of him and more.[LNB] It's been a good start for him at Sunderland, but football is a selfish game at times and I'm looking at what I'm doing. I've been working to get back fit and get back playing and that's what I intend to do.[LNB] Gordon admitted his time on the sidelines has been a frustrating one, but the ultimate goal of being first-choice as Sunderland make an assault on the top half of the table has kept him going.[LNB] He said: This is the happiest I've been for a while. I played for the reserves this week and I'm on track. I did everything that was expected of me in that game and I'm just pleased to be playing football again.[LNB] Hopefully, that will continue and hopefully I'll be back in the first team as soon as possible.[LNB] It was immensely frustrating when it happened, but the only good thing about it is that it happened when there were three or four weeks until the season began, so I've not missed as much football as I might have.[LNB] I'm back and I'm fit and looking to play games. I'm relying on reserve games at the moment.[LNB] There is no point worrying about what might have been, you just have to look forward.[LNB] It's done and I just want to get back to playing for Sunderland again.[LNB] I've just focused on trying to get back in the quickest time possible. There wasn't a great deal else I could do while we waited for the bone to heal.[LNB] That's done, it was up to me to get myself through it.[LNB] If Gordon starts on Saturday, he will not think twice about throwing himself into a challenge, despite suffering two breaks on the same arm inside nine months.[LNB] The arm doesn't worry me at all,'' he said. There is no hesitation on my part, everything happens so quickly.[LNB] Sometimes you do things which, after the game, you think about what a dangerous situation it could have been, but it never affects me when I'm playing at all. It hasn't happened before when I've been injured and I can't see it happening this time.[LNB] They say goalkeepers are mad anyway diving at people's feet. Hesitation isn't something you can have as a goalkeeper.[LNB]
