Lee Cattermole has made an impressive start to the campaign with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Cattermole stuck with Sunderland this term, despite their relegation to League One.
That was a surprise to many, but Cattermole had played his part in two relegation seasons.
Cattermole knew that if Sunderland begun the campaign badly, and he was in the side, the criticism of him would be fierce.
And he told Ross that if dropping him would get the Stadium of Light crowd onside, then he was willing to sit on the sidelines.
“I said to the manager in pre-season, if the stick affects the younger lads, don’t play me,” Cattermole said.
“I just felt chatting to Jack that he really cared, understood my situation. I felt I could learn from him.
“Some of the football we play is great, even with so many new players.
“We’re all good players but you only get to see it when you put the hard yards in.”
Cattermole has not done much sitting on the sidelines this season, as he has played a key role for Sunderland.
The midfielder has enjoyed his best goalscoring campaign in a long time, and looks a class above at League One level.
Sunderland won at the weekend, to move to within one point of the automatic promotion places.
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