Video: Craig Gardner singing with Sunderland fans on the way to the Newcastle game

Some will say that Premier League players have lost touch with supporters but this video of Craig Gardner with the Sunderland fans on Sunday might challenge that perception.

The Sunderland midfielder was suspended for Sunday’s memorable 3-0 victory at St. James’ Park for the Tyne-Wear derby so he decided to take in the game from the away end with the travelling support.

Not only that, but he travelled to the game on the Metro with Sunderland supporters, who were, as you would expect, in fine voice ahead of one of the biggest games of the season.

The Sunderland supporters soon called for Gardner to give them a song and he didn’t disappoint, leading them in singing the name of new manager Paolo Di Canio, who celebrated all of Sunderland’s goals as enthusiastically as any supporter on Sunday and will probably end up binning his dirty suit as a result.

Video via YouTube/TheSuperDeacon

While Di Canio was jumping around like a lunatic on the touchline, Gardner was doing likewise in the stands and was spotted on television (bottom left of picture below) enthusiastically joining in the celebrations with Black Cats fans following Sunderland’s third goal late on.

Pic via Twitter/SAFCsource

Class.

Hat-tip to Cormac O'Raghallaigh for giving us the heads up on Facebook.