Black Cats must wait for extent of damage

SUNDERLAND face an anxious wait to find out the extent of Charlie Wyke’s knee injury after he was stretchered off at Burton Albion.

The summer buy from Bradford City was injured in a collision with Brewers’ goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov just before half-time in the 2-1 defeat at the Pirelli Stadium, and Black Cats boss Jack Ross says the concern is that it is the same knee that Wyke injured in pre-season and which ruled him out of the start of the campaign.

Wyke arrived on Wearside with a medial ligament problem and Sunderland are hoping that this latest injury is not so serious.

“There was a significant impact when he challenged the goalkeeper and it’s the same knee that was injured when he joined the club,” said Ross.

“At the time I thought it might be a bit reckless by the goalkeeper, but having seen it again I don’t have too many complaints.

“Charlie is in a bit of pain just now, but sometimes these things heal quickly and they are not as bad as they look at first - but equally they can go the other way.

“We’ll let it settle down and then assess it over the next 24 or 48 hours.

“It will be a blow for him though because he is still working his way back to full match sharpness and fitness, you could see that today.

“To get that injury so early was frustrating.”

Sunderland were trailing 2-0 when Wyke was injured, with Jamie Allen and Kyle McFadzean putting the home side in a commanding position.

Chris Maguire - who replaced Wyke - reduced the arrears shortly after half-time, but the Black Cats could not find an equaliser to preserve their unbeaten start. Charlie Wyke of Sunderland