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Stuart Rayner

Lee Cattermole is putting off Sunderland's video nasty while he enjoys the ride in the sequel

While Netflix's acclaimed documentary Sunderland 'Til I Die has been watched around the world some of its cast have been studiously dodging it.

It is not often Lee Cattermole is accused of shirking anything, but like his Black Cats captain George Honeyman, he still cannot bring himself to watch the series .

Run by Sunderland supporters, production company Fulwell 73 took the cameras into the Academy of Light hoping to chronicle last season's bounce back from the disappointment of Premier League relegation. Instead they gave an insight as to how the dysfunctional institution continued its slide from grace, falling into League One.

Lee Cattermole explains why Sunderland manager Jack Ross is a senior player's dream  

With memories like that to stir up, no wonder Cattermole and Honeyman have not watched it.

But Cattermole says he will when the time is right, and if he can sit down this summer with a Wembley winner's medal and with the Black Cats' place in the Championship restored, it could be then.

With a new owner, coaching staff and sense of purpose, and most importantly more wins on the board, life at the Stadium of Light is a world away from the doom and gloom of 2017-18 , and the club's longest-serving player would rather enjoy this ride. On Sunday Sunderland will have a day out at Wembley to enjoy as they take on Portsmouth in the Football League Trophy final.

“I’m really enjoying what we’re doing,” says Cattermole of his tenth season as a Black Cat. “I’m loving how the club is and how we’re feeling. I don’t want to relive any of that just yet.

“But I will watch it when the time’s right. I don’t think it’s going anywhere fast – I think you’ll always be able to find it.

“On the back of this (season) it could be a nice thing to look back on but it’s important you’re feeling good.”

The sadness for the Teessider is there have been so many moments since he joined he would happily have watched.

The good news is a second series is in production, so the onus is on the players to give it a happy ending – starting at Wembley.

“I’ve had a lot of good seasons here when we’ve done some amazing stuff which would have been great to watch back in your summer and see how lads came across, have a bit of banter with each other,” says Cattermole.

Aiden McGeady on Sunderland's transformation from difficult club he was unsure about playing for  

“I don’t think it (2017-18) was really about that for us as a squad. I don’t think anyone could say they enjoyed any part of it.

“It was so unique in terms of how it was happening, it was just different.

“It came at the wrong time or the best time, whichever way you look at it.”

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