Gordon's season left in the balance by injury
Knee problem could mean Sunderland keeper misses climax of relegation battle
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Your support makes all the difference.The Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was expecting to discover yesterday if his season is over. The 26-year-old Scotland international was due to see specialists over the knee injury which has sidelined him for the last two games and could mean he will sit out the rest of the campaign.
That would come as a big blow to the Gordon, who has already missed almost six months of the season with an ankle problem.
He said: "It's automatic to fear the worst. There might be an operation and we will find out whether that is required. It's a possibility that it is the knee cartilage, but I'm trying to remain positive. It's been the worst season of my career for injuries. I have never had anything like this at any stage. I have hardly missed a game in my career, so to have two lengthy injuries back to back is disappointing. When you come to a new club in the first couple of years, you want to stamp your authority on things and I have been in and out, which has not been ideal.
"So let's get this season over and done with, stay in the Premier League and look forward to next season to come back stronger."
Gordon's first setback came on the eve of the the derby with Newcastle back in October when he suffered the ankle injury which limited him to just two appearances in a run of 26 games as Marton Fulop took over. But his latest absence just three games into his comeback sparked suggestions he had been dropped after 49 appearances to avoid triggering a £300,000 payment to former club Hearts for playing 50 matches, something chairman Niall Quinn has angrily denied. He is now unlikely to play a part in Sunderland's continuing fight for Premier League survival, although he is well aware of the implications of failure.
Gordon said: "Staying in the division is huge. For the players, the fans and the club here behind the scenes, there's such a difference in the money side of things if you drop down and that affects what the club will be able to spend.
"It doesn't bear thinking about what could happen, and that's why we have to stay focused on the job in hand. The last couple of weeks have been disappointing results and performances, so we are due a big one and to get the points that would climb us away. Everyone is struggling at this time but you hope we are big enough to get that win."
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