Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon feels he's ready for a first team return.

The 29-year-old Scot was out of action for almost a year with a knee injury but made his return to first-team duty as a unused substitute in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby.

"It was nice to be back in the dressing room with the lads and experience that again," Gordon told safc.com.

"It's been a long time - a lot longer than I anticipated when I first got the injury - so it's good to be back.

"I'll be doing everything I can between now and the end of the season to try and get back in the team.

"It's up to me to train hard, put some pressure on and prove that I am ready to start playing again."