Catt - We are at crossroads

Midfielder hoping to help Black Cats get back on track

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 16th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Catt - We are at crossroads

Cattermole: Welcome return

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Lee Cattermole admits Sunderland's season currently hangs in the balance and could go one of two ways.

A positive start to the campaign suggested the Black Cats could be contenders for European qualification, but they have started to wobble badly over recent weeks.

Their last eight fixtures have produced just one win alongside five defeats, meaning they have slipped back into mid-table.

A top-six tilt is still not out of the question, with over half of the season remaining, but results must improve drastically if they are to fulfil their early potential.

Midfield dynamo Cattermole, who returned to action following a lengthy lay-off against Aston Villa on Tuesday, admits as much and knows Sunderland's hard work could ultimately count for nothing if they are unable to establish some consistency.

"We're in a tricky situation where it could go either way for us," Cattermole told the Sunderland Echo.

"I think quite a lot has been made of me missing games and that we have not won as many games, but we have had some tough games. I will do my best now I'm back to help the team get back on track.

"Hopefully we can keep things tight at Man City on Saturday and come away with something.

"We need to get back to winning ways and become more solid and harder to beat."

Fitness

Cattermole has also expressed his delight at shaking off a medial knee ligament injury ahead of schedule, having successfully completed 20 minutes against Villa in midweek.

"I had eight weeks injured and three of those weeks were with the physio working really hard," he added.

"I'm glad to get away from it and it was good to get 20 minutes.

"I trained with the reserves on Friday and then got back with the first-team and I slotted in straight away.

"I've been running around like a bit of a mad man trying to get my fitness up. It is good to be back.

"It was a good run-out, but it's a shame Lorik (Cana) got sent off as soon as I came on. I did not have a chance to get into the game with him."

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