Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole admits he was ready to quit for Hartlepool United earlier this season.

Cattermole was so desperate he felt like taking up a light-hearted offer from Hartlepool boss Colin Cooper to join the League Two outfit on loan.

"We spoke after a behind-closed-doors game and he joked I could always get a game with him," he said.

"I nearly took him up on it. I just wanted to play football."

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