Lee Cattermole is standing at the top of the 63 steps that lead down from the dressing rooms towards the artificial pitch at De Koel. Dressed in blue suit and white trainers, he is “absolutely buzzing.” It is Saturday night and he has just played his first 90 minutes since Sunderland’s defeat in the League One play-off final and, aside from a touch of cramp, feels good.



He looks around this tiny stadium, to the beer stand blaring out Europop. He laughs.



“Different, isn’t it?” he says.



Cattermole’s home debut for VVV-Venlo, the Eredivisie club, has ended in a 2-1 victory over FC Groningen. His team rode their luck but he was in his element; shirt tucked in, shorts hitched high, cajoling, directing traffic, breaking up play. There is a moment in the second half when he chases down possession, pressing high. The crowd respond. “Lee, Lee, Lee, Cattermole, Cattermole, Cattermo-oo-ole…”



When the...