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."
He added: "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."
Cattermole has made a huge impact on Wearside since his £6million summer switch from Wigan.
Bruce was swift to lure him back to the north-east - he started his career at neighbouring Middlesbrough - a year after investing £3.5million to take him to Wigan, where he was manager at the time.
Cattermole's central midfield partnership with new skipper Lorik Cana has been a major feature of the club's excellent start to the Barclays Premier League campaign.
The 21-year-old Stockton-born enforcer has just shaken off a troublesome heel injury which had hampered him for several weeks and kept him out of the England Under-21s squad for their most recent fixture earlier this month.
Bruce said: "You feel for the boy because he's had a great start here and has epitomised what we are about and why we brought him here.
"He's done everything we knew he would."
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You have the making of a good season shame he got injured but im sure with a good manager as you have he will strengthen the team in jan with some good buys like he has made since being there.
Hey, where have all the Big Mouthed Skunks gone?
Cats and Cana have been the heart of the team since their arrival. Now we'll have to see if the other wannabe in the team players can step up to the plate and deliver what we've been enjoying in recent weeks. Both Cats and Cana have been inspirational signings but injuries such as this are going to happen when you play in such a ballsy and uncompromising fashion. I also echo the point made by Ian about the quiet manner in which the management have made changes and developed the side, away from media speculation and hype, but changes which have been very effectively implemented.
Let's see the 47,000 of Saturday become the norm every for home game at SoL, or as one comentator put it after the "balls" up on Saturday, the Stadium of Delight.
Bad news and sad news as well, Hope he recovers quickly This is a chance for J henderson to make his mark
Shame to loose such an influential midfielder so early, but when he comes back he will be like a new signing in January, buzzing to go. Brilliant signing by Bruce had my doubts about Bruce in July but he is making me eat humble pie, well done to Niall Quinn and Mr Short, for sticking with us and letting the club move quietly along. Both Gentlemen.
NOOOOOO!
hope henderson or rico can do good in his absence.
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