Gordon nearing Sunderland return

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon could resume training in January after spending 10 months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Gordon has been out since February after rupturing his cruciate ligament, with the 28-year-old hampered by numerous injuries since his arrival at the Stadium of Light from Hearts in 2007.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill is hopeful the Scotland international will return soon to first-team action, with third-choice goalkeeper Keiren Westwood deputising in his absence due to Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet’s injury.

“Craig is going to undergo a number of tests, and we’ll see how he is after that,” O’Neill told the Sunderland Echo.

“He’s been out for a long time, and obviously he’s anxious to get back.”