Cats keeper content with start

Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet hopes that his performances for the club in Craig Gordon's absence have secured his future. The 22-year-old Belgian has caught the eye for the Black Cats in recent games, having been thrown into the limelight following regular number one Gordon's wrist injury.He has kept two clean sheets in the last three games for the Wearsiders and has risen to the challenge after being given a first-team chance by manager Steve Bruce."I'm very new to all this and it is a big challenge for me, playing for a big club in the Premier League so soon in my career," Mignolet told the Sunderland Echo."I completely understood why the manager was looking around for another experienced keeper after Craig first got injured and I did not take that personally or hold it against him. "I had just got here and I had no experience of the Premier League so it was a big risk putting me into the side."But I hope I have proved in my performances so far that I have a future at this level and at his club."I have really enjoyed the games but I am still very much young and learning the game and I am aware that Craig is on his way back to full fitness. "He is the experienced keeper and he will go straight back into the side when he is fit."But we do not know how long he will be out yet and so in the meantime I still have the job to do."Black Cats boss Bruce has been impressed by Mignolet since his arrival at the club in June, but expects to have Gordon close to a return by the end of the month.He added: "Craig is on schedule. He'll be pushing by the end of the month. "If he is physically fit, the West Ham match in the Carling Cup next week is the game I will think about playing him in."

Source: Team_Talk