Sunderland Ace Lee Cattermole Praises Returning Wahbi Khazri as Relegation Battle Intensifies

Hard-tackling Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has heaped praise on teammate Wahbi Khazri after the Tunisia midfielder scored in the 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday.

The Black Cats were gifted a point against West Ham after Hammers shot-stopper Darren Randolph made two calamitous errors to give the hosts a way back into the game.

The first blunder was caused by a whipped in Wahbi Khazri corner, with the ball flying right over Randolph’s head and into the top-corner to make it 1-1 in the first-half. James Collins put the Hammers ahead once again but that goal was also chalked off after Fabio Borini equalised in stoppage-time.

?“Behind the scenes, the feeling in the dressing room before the game was good. We had a couple of changes in the team, and that gave everyone a lift.” Cattermole told the ?Sunderland Echo.

“It was nice to have Wahbi out there with us. He’s a great lad, and he’s worked really hard. Without taking it the wrong way, it shows it doesn’t matter what he looks like. I carry a bit (of weight) as well. 

“He hasn’t played, and he’s going to get fitter, but he’s played 90-odd minutes there for the first time in a long time and that’s real credit to him.”

Sunderland are nine points adrift of safety at the bottom but they will really need to start winning games to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.