The midfielder's future at the Stadium of Light has been in doubt after it was claimed that he wanted a move back to his home in the Midlands.
"I don't know whether he still wants to come back to the Midlands," Hodgson told reporters. "If he does, I'm sure we'll be interested in him."
Gardner joined Sunderland from Birmingham City during the summer.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Sunderland | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 11 | 14 | 31 |
| 2 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 31 |
| 3 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 29 |
| 4 | Burnley | 15 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 27 |
| 5 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 25 |
| 6 | Watford | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 25 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 24 |
| 8 | Millwall | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 23 |
| 9 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 22 |
| 10 | Bristol City | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 22 |
| 11 | Swansea CitySwansea | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 19 |
| 12 | Derby CountyDerby | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 13 | Stoke CityStoke | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 19 |
| 14 | Norwich CityNorwich | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| 15 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 18 |
| 16 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 17 |
| 17 | Coventry CityCoventry | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 16 |
| 18 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 26 | -11 | 16 |
| 19 | Hull City | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 15 |
| 20 | Preston North EndPreston | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 15 |
| 21 | Luton TownLuton | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 26 | -9 | 15 |
| 22 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 23 | -9 | 15 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 28 | -12 | 12 |
| 24 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 15 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 10 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
