Lee Cattermole has been ruled out of Sunderland Football Club’s plans until the New Year.

The midfielder has been superb for the Black Cats since moving from Wigan Athletic in the summer, but a knee injury has curtailed his progress at the Stadium of Light.

“We think it will be at least 12 weeks for Catts," boss Steve Bruce told the Sunderland Echo. "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. We have a few options in midfield.

“You feel for the boy because he's had a great start here and has epitomised what we're about and why we brought him here. He's done everything we knew he would.

"He couldn't wait to rampage around the park last weekend and for the part of the game he was on the pitch, he was fantastic. We will miss him, but we have others who can step in."

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