Source: Northern_Echo
Gordon fears his season is over
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Craig Gordon fears he may have to wait until next season before he can recapture full fitness after his hopes of a run out for Scotland went unfulfilled.[LNB] Gordon spoke last week of a desire to face the Brazilians at the Emirates Stadium, suggesting a 45-minute appearance in Sunday's high-profile friendly would have helped his cause.[LNB] But the Black Cats shot-stopper remained on the sidelines as Allan McGregor was between the posts in the 2-0 defeat.[LNB] Now Gordon will return to the North-East no further forward, with Sunderland boss Steve Bruce unlikely to risk Gordon's knee problem in the Premier League until he is certain he has made a full recovery.[LNB] The 28-year-old is not due to see renowned Swedish specialist Professor Hakan Alfredson for a few weeks and he is hoping to hear at that appointment that sufficient progress has bee made.[LNB] "My fight right now is trying to get fit. I'll cross the next bridge when I come to it," he said. "I'm not very close to being fully fit to be honest. I go back to see the specialist in the middle of next month.[LNB] "It's a possibility (that I will not be fully fit until next season). A strong possibility. I'll need to wait and see what the doctor says. I'm in his hands and he will tell me what I'm capable of doing from there."[LNB] Gordon's injury problems, he has also broken the same arm twice in the last 18 months, have prevented him from re-establishing himself as Scotland's No 1.[LNB] He had held that tag dating back to his Hearts days, when his performances earned him a £9m record move to the Stadium of Light.[LNB] But it is not just on the international scene where he faces such competition, with the development of Simon Mignolet also persuading Bruce to become more reliant on him.[LNB] The young Belgian, signed last the summer, has slotted into life in the Premier League comfortably and just last week Bruce described him as "one of the most promising goalkeepers" in the top-flight.[LNB] And Gordon said: "That's the life of a footballer isn't it You're going to have these times during your career where things aren't going to plan.[LNB] "Recently I've had a run of injuries but if I can get myself fit then I have no doubt that my ability will get me back playing.[LNB] "Whoever is in the Scotland squad has the chance of coming in and playing. It depends who is fit at what particular time. I don't look at anyone else other than myself. [LNB] "There's no point looking around and worrying. It's what I can do that matters. I'll focus solely on getting myself fit. If I get fit, only then can I start looking to play again for Scotland."[LNB] Chief scout Ricky Sbragia has left the Stadium of Light and is interested in taking on a coaching role somewhere else.[LNB] The 54-year-old was offered a role with the Sunderland for as long as he wanted after successfully keeping them in the Premier League when Roy Keane left two years ago.[LNB] He has been scouring Europe for new talent for Bruce's squad ever since, although he has decided the time is right to love on.[LNB] n Sunderland's final home match of the season with Wolves has been brought forward from 3pm to a 12.45pm kick-off on Saturday, May 14. [LNB] The game has been moved to avoid clashing with the FA Cup final, due to take place on the same day as top-flight games for the first time in the competition's history.[LNB]
