Cattermole is stretchered off during the victory over Liverpool

Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole is out for at least 12 weeks after suffering knee ligament damage during Saturday's 1-0 win over Liverpool.

The 21-year-old was carried off on a stretcher and boss Steve Bruce said he was relieved the injury was not worse.

"It's not good news, but it's the best we could have hoped," said Bruce.

"We were all praying he hadn't done his cruciate and damaged cartilage, which thankfully he hasn't - but he's still out for the best part of three months."

Cattermole came up through the ranks at Middlesbrough before Bruce signed him for Wigan in July 2008.

606: DEBATE I'm absolutely gutted for the lad. He has been immense for us since his arrival MrRAWhite

When Bruce moved to Sunderland this summer, Cattermole followed him, signing a four-year contract in a £6m deal.

Cattermole had only just recovered from a niggling heel injury which kept him out of the England Under-21 squad for their most recent fixture earlier this month.

"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," said Bruce.

"He's done everything we knew he would."

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