Latics and England U21 midfielder Lee Cattermole in bid to make club history

UEFA U21 CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
ENGLAND V GERMANY
Malmo, kick off 19.45pm
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1

Latics fans will be glued to their TVs to see if Latics star midfielder Lee Cattermole can become the first player in club history to appear and hopefully win in a major international final - at senior or Under 21 level - if he plays in the big clash against Germany tonight.

Cattermole has played a major part in the heart of midfield for Stuart Pearce's young lions in Sweden, starting every game bar one - the 'meaningless' dress rehearsal for tonight's game against Germany in the group stage, after England had already qualified for the second phase.

Catts admitted that there were a few nerves fluttering about during the epic 3-3 semi final battle against Sweden, and said that the team had to dig very deep to stay alive after the host nation had come back from three goals down.

"It was really tough out there," he said, "maybe a long season starting to catch up with us, but we hung on in there and got the rewards at the end."

He revealed after netting his penalty in the shoot-out that it was the first one he had ever taken!

"Yes, it was the first one as a professional. We've been practising after every training session and I felt lot more comfortable than I thought I was going to be. I tried to shut out the crowd and I felt alright."


COOL FOR CAT - Lee looking forward to tonight's big game

With Joe Hart, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell all suspended for Monday's final, Catts believes that team spirit will be crucial tonight.

"The manager's said all along that it's about the 23-man squad and we have to stick together. The team spirit in the camp is absolutely terrific. We've all trained hard and there are lads who are going to get a game and they deserve that because they've been brilliant."

He added: "We came here to win it. The lads have been away for a long time and we want to go home with a medal."

Cattermole will take a deserved break after the final, and with the majority of the squad returning to training next week, he has been granted some extra time off to recoup and recover before returning to Wigan.

"I'm fully focused on the game against Germany, but after that I am looking forward to a break before coming back for pre-season!"