We ARE fit to wear the shirt: Sunderland's Gardner rubbishes "out of shape" claims by boss Di Canio
Black Cats star dismisses criticism from new boss by insisting squad "work hard every day. No matter what manager comes in. We’re professionals"
Lost in translation: Gardner says Di Canio's talking "a load of rubbish"
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Craig Gardner insists Sunderland are fit for purpose after dismissing fears they could run out of steam in their bid to beat the drop.
New boss Paolo Di Canio has questioned their staying power and is putting the relegation-threatened Black Cats through a tough new training regime in an attempt to sharpen them up both physically and mentally for the grim battle for survival.
Sunderland’s hard-line Italian boss raised eyebrows when he described the squad he inherited from Martin O’Neill as "not the fittest in the world" after tasting defeat in his first game in charge against Chelsea.
Sunday's 2-1 setback at Stamford Bridge leaves the out of form Wearsiders separated from the bottom three only on goal difference, with six games left to save their season after a disastrous nine-match winless run lasting nearly three months.
Sunderland face Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday, and straight-talking Gardner insists any suggestion the squad is unfit is wide of the mark.
He said: “There’s been people talking and chatting about this, but it’s a load of rubbish.
“The gaffer’s come in and it’s the same. Every football club has to work hard. We’re working hard - we have to if we want to stay in the Premier League.
“We work hard every day. No matter what manager comes in, we’re professional footballers.
“I don’t know where this has come from, that Paolo Di Canio will work us harder, because at any club, there’s only one place you’ll be found out, and that’s on the pitch.”
Gardner was relegated from the Premier League with Birmingham two years ago.
The former Aston Villa midfielder is confident there’ll be no repeat with Sunderland next month.
He insisted: “I’ve not thought about being relegated, or anything like that. All I’ve thought about is how high we’re going to finish in the table. We’ve got ability in abundance, we’ve got work-rate, and we’ll get there.”
The 26-year-old misses the trip to Tyneside as he starts a two-match ban for clocking-up a 10th booking of the season against Chelsea.
Along with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Gardner has been one of the few Sunderland players to enhance his reputation this season.
He will be a big miss for Di Canio, after weighing in with eight goals in a side that’s struggled to find the net all campaign.
The versatile Brummie is convinced an over-reaction from Chelsea’s former Newcastle striker Demba Ba earned his fateful caution on Sunday.
Derby demolition: Gardner's out of the Newcastle trip after this booking
AP
He protested: “It’s not a yellow card. It was a fair tackle. He’s just rolled around and forced the booking.
“I’ll be involved on the training pitch all this week, and be in the tunnel geeing all the lads for it up before Sunday’s game - I can assure fans of that.”
Gearing up for his first Tyne-Wear derby clash, Di Canio added: “Losing Craig Gardner is a blow, but we can’t cry about it. We have to get on with it.”
* DANNY ROSE is braced for a baptism of fire in his first taste of St James' Park on derby day.
Sunderland’s on-loan Tottenham and England U21 defender feels Di Canio’s men have a string of six-pointers ahead of them - starting with Sunday's trip to arch-rivals Newcastle - as they try to secure Premier League football again next season.
He added: “I’ve heard from the staff and the lads that it’s a hostile atmosphere there, and I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great match. Hopefully we can come out on top.
“Every game’s a six-pointer.”