Source: Team_Talk
Gordon keen to make Bridge debut
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is desperate to make up for lost time as he heads for Chelsea for the first time on Sunday.[LNB] Britain's most expensive goalkeeper has spent far too long on the sidelines for his own liking since he made his £9million switch from Hearts to Wearside in August 2007.[LNB]Gordon has started just 80 of Sunderland's 141 games since joining the Black Cats, and had to wait until Tuesday night at Tottenham for his first appearance of the season.[LNB]It was at White Hart Lane almost a year to the day previously that his injury problems returned with a vengeance when he broke a bone in his arm in a challenge with Jermain Defoe.[LNB]The Scotland international missed 10 games as he fought his way back to fitness, but then suffered a similar injury in pre-season, a mishap which propelled summer arrival Simon Mignolet into the limelight in the wake of understudy Marton Fulop's departure.[LNB]Mignolet performed so admirably in his absence that Gordon had to wait patiently for his chance, spending six games on the bench.[LNB]But having regained his place, he is determined to rediscover the form which so impressed manager Steve Bruce at the end of last season.[LNB]Gordon said: "It's not really that easy. I would like to get a run of games before I could say I was back at that standard.[LNB]"I had a good game on Tuesday night, I was happy with that for a first game back.[LNB]"It was always going to be a big test and I am glad to get through it and move on to the next one.[LNB]"Six months without a competitive game at this level is a long time. To come back in and have a few saves to make, it was nice to get straight back into the swing of things."[LNB]Gordon was called upon to make several important saves as the Black Cats gradually wore down Spurs in midweek and scrapped their way to a 1-1 draw which further restored confidence after a 2-0 weekend victory over Stoke in the wake of their derby nightmare at Newcastle.[LNB]But for the Scot, there were personal psychological demons to deal with as his mind inevitably went back to his clash with Defoe and the pain and misery which resulted.[LNB]He said: "I would be lying if I said I didn't know where I was going and it was a year almost exactly to the day that all this began.[LNB]"I knew that was the case, but I used it more as a motivation than something to be nervous about, to come back and put a good performance in."[LNB]Tomorrow's trip to Stamford Bridge will provide Gordon with a new experience, and one he is looking forward to despite recent history suggesting that may not be wise.[LNB]He has never yet played at Chelsea - and has only lined up against the Blues once at the Stadium of Light - and the Black Cats have fared poorly in West London during his time at the club.[LNB]Darren Ward was in goal when they lost 2-0 in December 2007, while Fulop was on the receiving end of 5-0 and 7-2 defeats in the last two seasons.[LNB]Gordon said: "We will have to defend very well. Throughout this season we have defended particularly well, which has been a big asset for us.[LNB]"We have not been scoring loads of goals, but defensively we have been fairly sound. That was important at Spurs and it will be important again at the weekend.[LNB]"It's a difficult one for us. It's a place that I have never managed to play yet through all the seasons I have been here, so hopefully if I can stay in on the back of the Spurs result I will get to play there at last and try to get something from the game."
