Cattermole misses next three games after latest yellow card
Lee Cattermole picked up his tenth yellow card of the season in Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Blackpool and will now serve a two-game ban.
Sunderland, already without George Honeyman, will be without Cattermole for Saturday’s trip to Charlton and the visit of Luton Town the following weekend.
Cattermole will also be unavailable for the Checkatrade Trophy match against Newcastle United U21s next Tuesday.
On Cattermole, Cats boss Jack Ross said: “It’s a blow because we’re a bit stretched for numbers and he’s been influential this season. You saw that from our substitutes’ bench – we had a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old because that was all the fit players we had.
“It’s part of his game. If I’m being cynical, then his yellow card was probably one that myself and James [Fowler] would have taken because they were going on the counter-attack.
“It’s just the nature of playing in his position and being the type of player he is. It comes with the territory.
“I think earlier in the season I would have had complaints about some of the bookings he picked up because he was an easy one to caution, but it’s just an accumulation of bookings.”
Skipper Honeyman has missed the last couple of games with an ankle injury and is a big doubt for the next two League One games.
On Honeyman, Ross added: “He won’t be fit for Charlton, probably not for Luton as well. It is tough but we have coped admirably well when we have had important players out for various reasons.”