Source: Daily_Mail
Steve Bruce positive over Lee Cattermole comeback
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping skipper Lee Cattermole's injury problems are behind him as he prepares to return to full training. [LNB]The 22-year-old midfielder has been out of action since the end of December with a back problem which has required complete rest, but started running again last week and is ready to step up his bid for fitness. [LNB]Cattermole has been plagued by injuries since his ?6million switch from Wigan to the Stadium of Light - he has managed just 18 appearances to date this season, although two red cards have contributed to his absences - after missing a significant proportion of his first campaign on Wearside with a series of niggling problems. [LNB] On the mend: Sunderland midfielder Cattermole (left) is closing in on a comeback[LNB]When he has been fit, the former Middlesbrough enforcer has fully justified Bruce's faith in him, and that is why he has refused to take any chances with him. [LNB]The manager said: 'We know it's a back injury and we were worried it would turn into a stress fracture. [LNB]'That was the biggest worry and that's why he had to have complete rest, which he has done. [LNB]'The remit was that we had to give him six to eight weeks off to make sure it didn't turn into a stress fracture, and that's what we have done. [LNB]'He was in and around jogging last week and we hope that's now okay with the rest he has had.'[LNB]Cattermole was severely hampered last season by a hamstring injury stemming from a back problem, but Bruce and his medical team are confident his latest misfortune, which has sidelined him since the 2-0 Barclays Premier League home defeat by Blackpool on December 28, is unrelated. [LNB]He said: 'What happened in the past was he got a serious knee injury and then unfortunately, picked up another knock, and then a hamstring related to his back. [LNB]'But this was a whack on his back and we were worried that there was bone bruising. [LNB]'We were advised by specialists that that could turn into a stress fracture if he kept on playing, so we took him away from it and protected him.'[LNB] In addition to Cattermole's impending return, Fraizer Campbell was due to see a specialist, when he was hoping to be given the go-ahead to resume full training after a knee injury, while Michael Turner and Danny Welbeck are also nearing comebacks. [LNB]The Black Cats head for beaten Carling Cup finalists Arsenal on Saturday, desperate to end a run of four successive league defeats which has seen them drop out of the top six and slip off the pace in the race for Europa League qualification. [LNB] Everton 2 Sunderland 0: Beckford shows his class in sweet victoryWatch all the Premier League goals every week on our brilliant video playerGraham Poll: Has Attwell finally banished ghost of the 'phantom goal'?All the latest Sunderland news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Michael Turner, Steve Bruce, Danny Welbeck, Lee Cattermole
