Influential Cattermole is out for three months with the knee injury he suffered in last weekend's 1-0 home win over Liverpool.

Boss Steve Bruce will have to decide who can bring similar qualities to his side with Henderson, Bolo Zenden and Kieran Richardson looking the most likely candidates to partner captain Lorik Cana at St Andrew's.

But 19-year-old Mackem Henderson is taking nothing for granted.

He told the Gazette: "I would be confident about going out and doing a job for the team, but it is up to the gaffer who he chooses and he'll decide what's best.

"Catts has been brilliant for the team. Whoever plays in that role will have to make sure they give everything to make sure the team's performance stays at the highest level.

"I am still very young, but I am getting a bit more experienced. You learn from every game and you can't have many tougher games than Man United and Liverpool.

"Being involved in those two games has been massive for me. I think it has improved me and hopefully I can keep that going."

Henderson scored his first Sunderland goal against Birmingham when the Blues fell 2-0 at the Stadium of Light in last month's Carling Cup third round clash.

He said: "We have learned a bit about them from that game but they had some important players injured then and I think they'll be tougher at home.

"People will look at our last two results and make us favourites but we have to respect Birmingham, and we will.

"We have to keep doing what we did against United – get in their faces, work hard all over the pitch when we haven't got the ball and play good football when we're in possession.

"If we keep our standards high and do the job right then I don't see why we can't get a good result."

Henderson signed a new three-year deal last week and has played in all but one of the Black Cats' games this season after quickly catching boss Bruce's eye.

He added: "I'm loving every minute just now. I signed a new contract last season just before I went on loan to Coventry and to be offered a fresh deal again was great for me.

"It was a massive boost to have the club show that sort of faith in me, and I have to go justify that now by working hard and keeping my feet on the ground."