Source: Northern_Echo
Gordon set for surprise return to Sunderland team
CRAIG Gordon is set to make a surprise return to Sunderland's starting line up for Saturday's crucial relegation clash with Wigan Athletic.[LNB] Gordon was due to fly to Sweden this morning to have another consultation with leading knee specialist Professor Hakan Alfredson.[LNB] However, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has instructed the Scotland international to remain on Wearside, and ruled out any prospect of him undergoing ligament surgery before the summer.[LNB] As a result, Gordon is now expected to replace Simon Mignolet in Saturday's starting XI, with the Belgian having made two costly errors at Birmingham last weekend.[LNB] Mignolet was involved in a mix-up with Phil Bardsley as Sebastian Larsson opened the scoring, and could only palm Craig Gardner's long-range strike into the corner of the net as Birmingham inflicted Sunderland's eighth defeat in the last nine matches.[LNB] Gordon has not started the last six of those games after complaining of an ongoing knee problem that has been impairing his movement.[LNB] He has, however, been named on the substitutes' bench, and with the Black Cats just five points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining, Bruce is ready to promote the £9m man back to his old position as the club's number one.[LNB] Craig will go to see the specialist again, but we've asked him to delay having an operation and play on, said the Sunderland boss. We're going to have to manage the problem the best we can, but he will come back in. We can't let him have the operation now because of the situation we are in.[LNB] That situation worsened at the weekend, as Sunderland conceded at least two goals for the seventh time in the space of eight matches.[LNB] Earlier in the season, the Black Cats boasted one of the best defences in the Premier League, but Bruce feels a spell of constant chopping and changing has robbed them of their previous solidity.[LNB] For me, when we were successful, the reason was our back lot, he said. Our back lot was rock solid, we didn't give much away.[LNB] Certainly, when (Michael) Turner and (Titus) Bramble were in tandem, we kept four or five clean sheets at that particular time, and that hasn't happened since.[LNB] For me, rather than up the front end, the one area where you need to be rock solid and create partnerships is at the back. You need that spine of your team and, unfortunately, it hasn't really happened.[LNB] Sunderland's defensive options remain limited, although it is hoped Anton Ferdinand will return to the squad at the weekend.[LNB] Nyron Nosworthy will not be involved against Wigan, as recent reports suggesting his loan spell at Sheffield United has been prematurely curtailed are unfounded.[LNB] Nosworthy will remain on loan with the Blades until the end of the Championship season, although the South Yorkshire club's likely relegation to League One will scupper any hope of a permanent deal being agreed in the summer.[LNB] * Substitute Billy Knott scored the only goal of the game as Sunderland's Under-18 side beat Barnsley 1-0 yesterday afternoon.[LNB]
