Post by Les on Mar 9, 2019 10:22:08 GMT
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jack-ross-explains-how-sunderland-15940544
Jack Ross explains how Sunderland are managing Lee Cattermole's ongoing injury issue
Lee Cattermole of Sunderland (Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Lee Cattermole is set to return for Sunderland this weekend but Jack Ross admits he must pick and choose the midfielder's games to manage an ongoing ankle issue.
Cattermole has been in terrific form for the Black Cats this season and has played a major role in the club's promotion campaign.
But he has been carrying an ankle problem for some time and Ross is taking a conservative approach in order to reduce the risk of losing Cattermole for an extended spell during the run-in.
Cattermole scored Sunderland's opening goal in the 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle last weekend but Ross had already decided he would not make the trip to Bristol Rovers for the midweek Checkatrade Trophy semi-final.
But the 30-year-old is expected to be back in the side when Sunderland take on Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park this afternoon.
"It's an ongoing thing," said Ross of Cattermole's injury.
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Wycombe vs Sunderland
"His ankle has been troubling him a little bit, so it is just a case of managing him through the games.
"Now and again it can give him a problem and at this stage of the season it is about managing any issues that players have got, whether that is through the training schedule or through the match schedule.
"It was always the plan for him to miss out against Bristol Rovers - before the Plymouth game last weekend we had already taken the decision that he wouldn't be involved in midweek.
"It allows us to manage him properly.
"He's been bang at it in training so it is good to have him back available."
Max Power made his first start for almost a month when he replaced Cattermole at Bristol and his performance drew praise from Ross.
He said: "Max deserves a lot of credit for that.
"I'm a big fan of his as a player and it's frustrating for him at the moment [being out of team] - and for me too, because he is a good player, one that I rate highly.
"I was delighted with his performance at Bristol, I thought he was really good, and it was testament to his professionalism and his focus that he could come into the team and produce at that level.
"It's comforting for me as a manager to see that.
"Generally, players know when they have played well and contributed and if you saw his mood at the end of the game you could tell that he was thinking 'I got the opportunity tonight, I came in tonight and I was good'."
Jack Ross explains how Sunderland are managing Lee Cattermole's ongoing injury issue
Lee Cattermole of Sunderland (Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Lee Cattermole is set to return for Sunderland this weekend but Jack Ross admits he must pick and choose the midfielder's games to manage an ongoing ankle issue.
Cattermole has been in terrific form for the Black Cats this season and has played a major role in the club's promotion campaign.
But he has been carrying an ankle problem for some time and Ross is taking a conservative approach in order to reduce the risk of losing Cattermole for an extended spell during the run-in.
Cattermole scored Sunderland's opening goal in the 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle last weekend but Ross had already decided he would not make the trip to Bristol Rovers for the midweek Checkatrade Trophy semi-final.
But the 30-year-old is expected to be back in the side when Sunderland take on Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park this afternoon.
"It's an ongoing thing," said Ross of Cattermole's injury.
Read More
Wycombe vs Sunderland
"His ankle has been troubling him a little bit, so it is just a case of managing him through the games.
"Now and again it can give him a problem and at this stage of the season it is about managing any issues that players have got, whether that is through the training schedule or through the match schedule.
"It was always the plan for him to miss out against Bristol Rovers - before the Plymouth game last weekend we had already taken the decision that he wouldn't be involved in midweek.
"It allows us to manage him properly.
"He's been bang at it in training so it is good to have him back available."
Max Power made his first start for almost a month when he replaced Cattermole at Bristol and his performance drew praise from Ross.
He said: "Max deserves a lot of credit for that.
"I'm a big fan of his as a player and it's frustrating for him at the moment [being out of team] - and for me too, because he is a good player, one that I rate highly.
"I was delighted with his performance at Bristol, I thought he was really good, and it was testament to his professionalism and his focus that he could come into the team and produce at that level.
"It's comforting for me as a manager to see that.
"Generally, players know when they have played well and contributed and if you saw his mood at the end of the game you could tell that he was thinking 'I got the opportunity tonight, I came in tonight and I was good'."