Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole says that the club can improve on last season's performance and is looking forward to getting started
Sunderland captain says they can improve on 13th this season
Sunderland club captain Lee Cattermole has led his team out for their first day of pre-season training on Wednesday and says that he believes that this year the club can beat last season's 13th-place finish.
The Black Cats fired manager Steve Bruce halfway through last season, and Cattermole has backed his successor Martin O'Neill to bring in more players and stamp his authority on the club this season.
The 24-year-old midfielder says that he has shaken off a series of niggling injuries that bothered him last season, and is looking forward to seeing new signing Carlos Cuellar in action.
"The break was good, even if it was longer than I would have liked," Cattermole told the
Sunderland Echo.
"It even got to a point where I was looking forward to getting back into it!
"But this time of year is always exciting and a good time. This season is Martin's main season and he's had time to prepare. I'm sure he will bring some more players in.
"He will really stamp his authority on the side and that's why it's a really exciting year. Hopefully it will go well - I'm sure it will.
"It's a great time of the year when you get new faces and there's a fresh approach to everything.
"Everyone is fresh and just looking forward to the new season now.
"I finished last season with an ankle problem and I also fought a knee injury for a couple of months as well. But I'm fine now. It was just rest that was required for both injuries."
Discussing new signing Cuellar, Cattermole added: "Carlos has been a great player over the years. It will be good to have him on board.
"It shows what Martin thinks of him to sign him again."
