Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole insists his friendship with Boro counterpart Matthew Bates will be put on the backburner on Sunday.
No room for sentiment as skipper prepares to meet former colleague
Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole insists his friendship with Middlesbrough counterpart Matthew Bates will be put on the backburner when the two sides meet this weekend.
The Black Cats host their Championship rivals on Sunday knowing the victor will advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup.
The clash holds extra significance for Cattermole, who became best friends with Bates while they were both apprentices in Middlesbrough's youth academy.
But the Sunderland midfielder, who broke into Boro's first-team alongside the centre-back, is adamant there will be no love lost on Wearside.
He said: "It will feel funny shaking his hand before the game, but it will be serious.
"We've known each other since we were kids. He was a year older than me and I played with his team at Boro from maybe under-14s or under-15s.
"It's funny that we were kids together and suddenly he's walking out with Boro and I'm taking Sunderland out the tunnel. It's something you never think would happen."
Injuries
Bates has established himself as a key player at the Riverside Stadium after overcoming persistent cruciate knee ligament problems.
Cattermole is full of praise for the skipper for staying strong throughout his injury troubles, adding: "Matty has an incredible story. Everybody questioned whether he would be back and I think sometimes he questioned it himself, following his injuries.
"To come back from that shows his character. To return from four cruciate tears is surely unheard of. I've had a couple of serious injuries since I got here, but they have been three months long. It drove me mad."
Cattermole is pleased to have won over Martin O'Neill having got off to a rocky start under the new Black Cats boss following his arrest last month after cars were allegedly damaged in Newcastle city centre.
After Sunderland's victory over Manchester City, the manager grabbed Cattermole around the neck to congratulate him and the midfielder
explained: "I was trying to get my breath back as I was absolutely shattered and he gave me the tightest headlock ever.
"He just said, 'Well done, absolutely brilliant, you've a heart like a lion'.
"He was happy with me and we all know what happened when he came in the first week when I didn't get off on the right foot but he has been brilliant with me."
