Source: PA
Gordon hungrier than ever
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is desperate to make up for lost time after being plunged back into Sunderland's fight to save their season.
The 27-year-old spent 11 frustrating weeks on the sidelines after breaking his arm in a collision with Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe in November.
At that point, the Black Cats were flying high and talked of as possible candidates for Europe, but Steve Bruce's side have since slipped down the table and head into Monday's home clash with Stoke knowing they could find themselves perilously close to the relegation zone by the time they kick off.
Gordon, who returned to action in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth last Saturday, was playing arguably the best football of his spell on Wearside when his own misfortune struck, and he is determined to rediscover that level of performance as quickly as possible.
He said: "I don't think there was any doubt that that was me playing to my potential and without injury for one of the few times since I have been at the club.
"I have had a terrible times with injuries, but that was a few-month spell when I was totally injury-free and managing to play probably the best I have played for Sunderland. Hopefully now I am back again, I can get a few games under my belt and can recapture that form again."
