Cattermole was a summer signing from Steve Bruce's old side Wigan

Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole thinks a good FA Cup run can lift the atmosphere around the club.

The Black Cats have not won in eight league games and are at Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.

"It'd be nice to get a little cup run. We owe it to the fans - they've turned out in their numbers and not had much to sing about," he told BBC Newcastle.

"Hopefully that'll change at the weekend, we'll go on a cup run and give the players a lift."

The former England under-21 international is set for a return to the Sunderland first team after a month-long injury lay-off.

"It's going well, I trained the last two days in Portugal, chose not to be in the squad against Chelsea and trained yesterday," the 21-year-old said.

"So I'm looking forward to this weekend and hoping to be in the team for the rest of the season.

"I've played one game in three months and it's been the first time in my career I've had to suffer with injuries, it's been frustrating.

"I've got to do everything now on and off the field to keep myself fit and I'm looking forward to getting back fit and getting some more points."

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