Craig Gordon insists he will not risk further damage to his broken arm by rushing his recuperation. The Sunderland keeper and Scotland international, who broke his left arm for what was the second time in eight months in a freak training accident in July, has been sidelined for the Black Cats' Premier League campaign so far.
"I'd like to return to full training as quickly as possible but I will not take any chances because this is the second time I've suffered this injury," the 27 year old told the Daily Record.
"I'm already doing little bits of handling and work in the gym. I've come back from this before and I'll come back from it again.
"It's tough to watch from the sidelines with Sunderland and I'm so disappointed to miss these games for Scotland."
Gordon has had a titanium plate reinserted into his arm to aid the repair of the broken bone.
The keeper admits the metal support could be a long-term fixture, but does not expect it to hinder his performance when he makes his eventual return.
He said: "It has been a frustrating period because I had the plate in my arm removed earlier in the summer and everything was going really well until five or six days into pre-season training when the injury went again.
"The plate has been put in my arm again. I imagine it will stay in for a few years now, possibly even until the end of my career.
"It didn't cause me any problems to play with it last season and I'm sure it won't again in future."
