Gordon happy with Bruce’s methods

31 October 2009 11:01
CRAIG GORDON has hailed the support Steve Bruce gave him while he recovered from a thigh injury but revealed that he has not been given any assurances that he is Sunderlands number one goalkeeper.[LNB] Tellingly, the £9m signing from Hearts has not sought any guarantee from the manager that he is regarded as the clubs first choice, preferring instead to influence Bruces team selection through his performances.[LNB] With Marton Fulop edging back to fitness and Trevor Carson earning impressive reviews for his reserve team performances, Gordon accepts he faces an on-going battle to retain the jersey.[LNB] Everybody wants to be in the position of being the defined first choice, he reflected.[LNB] Thats the position you want to be in, of course, but thats not the case here so well do the best we can week in, week out.[LNB] The manager hasnt said Im number one and theres a reason for it. You have to perform on the pitch.[LNB] Martons waiting in the wings, having come back from his injury. If Im not doing it on the pitch, hes every reason to change things. I dont think theres any need to say Im number one.[LNB] I dont feel the need to be told that, I just want to go out there and play as many games as I can. I have that self-belief and Im sure Marton has it as well.[LNB] His latest challenge is to deny Hammers marksman Carlton Cole this afternoon but admits that he found it hugely frustrating when the niggling injury delayed him a chance to impress the Sunderland boss.[LNB] But after returning to the side in the Carling Cup victory at Norwich City, Gordon has been an ever-present in Bruces team.[LNB] Im in the team at the moment, hopefully Ill stay in it, he said. Its a difficult situation really, having two people who are desperate to play in the first team and feel they have earned the right and should be doing that.[LNB] Asked if he had considered leaving Wearside while he was sidelined, he replied: Not really.[LNB] All I had to concentrate on was getting myself ready to play. If things continued after that maybe Id have had to think about it but it wasnt anything that had crossed my mind at that point.[LNB] I just wanted to get fit and get back to playing my best football, then you start to see what happens after that. Coming back towards the end of last season, then having the operation in the summer, there wasnt ever a time when I thought everything was in working order and I could step out on the training field and stake a claim for a place.[LNB] This season it took a while, longer than I thought it would.[LNB] I got the operation with three weeks to go of last season and hoped Id be back for pre-season. Missing pre-season isnt ideal for any player, goalkeepers included.[LNB] The manager was really good actually. He just wanted to see me play. I went away with the team on the pre-season tours to Portugal and to Holland and didnt play at all.[LNB] I barely trained at all, it was on my own, very lightly. It really was slow progress. It was frustrating for him as well. He wanted to be able to assess the whole squad and wanted to see me play to make the decisions he needed to make. Its very pleasing to get back in and now Im starting to feel very comfortable.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo