Lee Cattermole

By The Black Cats
August 13 2009

Steve Bruce has finally managed to get hard tackling midfielder Lee Cattermole to sign on the dotted line. Cattermole, who Bruce took to Wigan, is returning to the north east after leaving Middlesbrough last season.

It's going to be interesting to see how we lineup against Bolton on Saturday, will we play two defensive midfielders in Cana and Cattermole?

Will we go 4-4-2, with Richardson and Steed on the wings?

Or maybe 4-5-1 with Kenwyne/Bent up front and Richardson just behind him with Steed/Campbell/Reid on the wings?

Cattermole, 21, has penned a four-year contract after the clubs agreed a £6million fee for the England Under-21 international with the fee rising to around £10million depending on appearances and international caps.

"I enjoyed my time away [from the North East] and being in Manchester," said Cattermole.

My year being with Steve Bruce was brilliant and when I got the chance to come and play again with him I couldn't turn it down.

"He put his faith in me to go and play my football at Wigan and the smile was never off my face last year, so when the chance came along and deal got done, that's what I wanted.

"I know what the fans at north east clubs want to see and I play football in that way - I show passion and that's my game."

"I speak highly of Fraizer, he's done well in the under-21s and Darren's been in the England team which says a lot.

The players coming in show where the team wants to go and it's good for a player to come to a club with big ambitions.

"Looking at the players we've got we should be finishing in the top ten and that's our aim this season."

On Bruce: " He's a honest, English guy who expects hard work and a work ethic from his players - if you give that to him, he appreciates it a lot.

"He's organised and that's good for the team."