Catts backs Lee to take SAFC up
Lee Cattermole says he believes the Sunderland squad are ‘more than capable’ of achieving promotion from League One this term.
And the former midfielder has also given his backing to Lee Johnson, who he feels will be the right fit at the Stadium of Light.
Cattermole, who left the Black Cats in the summer of 2019 to join VVV Venlo, retired from football last year.
And he was part of the Sky Sports coverage of Sunderland’s win at Ipswich Town, where he was quizzed on the Black Cats’ promotion hopes – and how the prospective takeover of the club by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus could affect their ambitions.
The Louis-Dreyfus deal is continuing to go through EFL checks, after a deal was agreed with Stewart Donald in December which will see the 23-year-old purchase a majority share.
But Cattermole feels the ongoing saga won’t prove a hindrance to a squad he believes is well-equipped to get out the division.
"That's something that people from the outside may be looking at, but I know being a player as well that you manage the dressing room and your own performances,” he said.
“You don't really keep an eye on that sort of stuff, you just probably wait for the news.
“But in terms of the squad that's there, I think they're more than capable of going and getting out the league and that's what they'll believe they can do.
“I don't really think the takeover will affect them that much.”
The victory at Ipswich Town signalled the first time that the Black Cats had registered back-to-back league wins since Johnson’s arrival on Wearside, as they look to build-up some much-needed momentum going into the second half of the League One campaign.
And Cattermole believes the side could yet improve further as the campaign wears on, and Johnson is given more time to work with the side.
Yet he doesn’t believe wholesale improvements are needed to a squad who remain well in the thick of a tight promotion race.
"With what Sunderland are doing at the minute, we've obviously stripped it back a bit and you have to slow down a bit,” added Cattermole.
“We've brought a new appointment in with Lee Johnson and I believe he's probably the right man for the job at the minute.
"He likes to build his teams and he likes to play that exciting, quick football.
“At the minute, he might not have the squad to do that – but I still believe this squad of players will believe they can go and get promoted this year.
“I'm not sure about now or never, but that has to be the aim this season.
"I really believe over the second half of the season that you'll start to see his ideas coming across,” he continued.
“He doesn't have to improve them by much to get them in a position to challenge, so I think it's an exciting time.
“If he improves them individually and collectively as a group, then they've got a great chance.”