Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping Lee Cattermole's impending
return to action could rekindle the Black Cats Premier League
charge.
The 21-year-old midfielder has missed the last seven league
games with a medial ligament injury and in his absence, the Black
Cats have collected three points only once.
That run of indifferent results was capped on Saturday when
bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth emerged from their trip to the
Stadium of Light with a draw to show for their efforts after Younes
Kaboul's injury-time strike ruined Bruce's day.
Cattermole will be a bystander once again on Tuesday evening
when high-flying Aston Villa arrive on Wearside, but he could play
for the reserves the following day and that would put him right
back in the frame for selection.
Bruce said: "I was asked the question would we miss Lee. It's
a bit unfair to just label one player, but he had such an influence
in the team early doors that we haven't looked quite the same
without him.
"Without his competitive skills, which he has in abundance,
we have missed him, it's quite simple to see that.
"I said we would judge it in six, seven, eight weeks - well,
it is fairly evident that the boy has had such an impact on the
team, and it's good to see him in and around it."
Cattermole was injured during the 1-0 win over Liverpool on
October 17, and the club's only victory since then came on November
21 when Arsenal left the north-east on the wrong end of the same
scoreline.
The former Middlesbrough and Wigan enforcer is understandably
desperate to return and is well ahead of schedule, but having seen
how badly he has been missed, Bruce is in no mood to rush things.
He said: "He has just got that infectious enthusiasm and he
wants to play football.
"I predicted he would be back...we were thinking about 12
weeks - well, it was eight weeks on Saturday.
"I have just got to be careful. I have got to make sure I
don't rush the kid too much because he is desperate to play and
that is written all over him."
Injuries and suspensions severely limited Bruce's options at
the weekend, and he will have Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley
back from disciplinary bans tonight.
However, Nyron Nosworthy performed so well in right-back
Bardsley's absence that his return is by no means certain.
Bruce said: "Nyron is becoming a cult hero here, that's
pretty evident, and I can understand why.
"He epitomises what I like in a footballer. He might not be
naturally blessed with the best of skills, but by God, the kid
gives you everything he has got.
"Certainly, he gives me a headache for tonight because
arguably, he was our best player on Saturday."
