Cattermole out for three months

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has revealed key midfielder Lee Cattermole will be out of action for at least 12 weeks.

However, that has come as a huge relief to Bruce, whose initial fear was the player’s season could have been ended by the medial ligament damage he suffered during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: “We think it will be at least 12 weeks for Catts.

“He’s done his medial ligament. It’s not good news, but it’s the best we could have hoped for.

“We were all praying he had not done his cruciate and damaged cartilage, which thankfully he hasn’t – but he’s still out for the best part of three months.”