However, Steve Bruce believes Cattermole is the ideal skipper to lead Sunderland into Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.
Cattermole was sent off twice in his first three league games of the season, and let's hope he gets his hat-trick at St James' Park on Sunday.
Bruce: “Sometimes you get a kicking in life and you come back stronger for it and I think he’s one of those people.
“He’s learned a lot from those first two or three games.
“I sincerely hope he has. And I have no doubt Catts will be a good leader of this team, this weekend and in the future.
“I’ve got a belief that those sendings-off were only a misguided desire to impress on Lee’s part.
“But I think the last few games, we’ve started to see the real Catts.
“Yes he’s made a couple of poor passes but overall he’s done brilliantly.”