Simon Grayson suggests Lee Cattermole has first-team future at Sunderland

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Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole hasn’t been performing to the top of his ability this season.

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson’s praise of Lee Cattermole and John O’Shea in the Shields Gazette suggests that the pair have a big role to play at the Stadium of Light this season.

Grayson picked both O’Shea and Cattermole for Sunderland’s last match against Preston North End, with the pressure on the Black Cats.

And the veteran duo performed well, as Sunderland picked up a credible 2-2 draw at Deepdale.

With Sunderland struggling badly for results, the experience of Cattermole and O’Shea was a massive help, as Grayson’s team ended their run of three straight defeats.

And Grayson felt that O’Shea and Cattermole led by example during the contest.

He said: “I thought John and Lee both showed what they are all about; leaders, captains of the team, they led by example.

“We had to compete in midfield, Catts and Didier did a great job in winning the second balls and the players have all responded.”

Grayson’s praise of Cattermole may not please every Sunderland supporter though, as there have been calls for the midfielder to be dropped.

HITC ran a reaction piece recently, where Sunderland fans almost unanimously agreed that Cattermole was well past his peak and wanted him left out of the team.

However, it does not seem that they will get their wish, with Grayson clearly an admirer of the combative midfield man.