HUGE ANICHEBE BLOW ROCKS SUNDERLAND
STRIKER RULED OUT FOR 10 TO 12 WEEKS, ALL BUT ENDING HIS INVOLVEMENT THIS TERM
Sunderland have been dealt another huge injury blow after it was confirmed striker Victor Anichebe has suffered knee ligament damage.
The powerful forward is now facing between 10 and 12 weeks on the sidelines after scans revealed the extent of the damage.
The severity of the injury effectively rules the 28-yearold out for the bulk of the rest of the campaign and leaves Sunderland in need of striking reinforcements before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday.
The Sunderland striker damaged his right knee after coming on as a sub in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at West Brom.
Anichebe played on following treatment and showed no ill-effects, but his leg was scanned on Monday and test results have now confirmed the club’s worst fears, with Anichebe rupturing his medial ligament.
The Echo understands that his spell on the sidelines is expected to be around 10 weeks, meaning manager David Moyes will be without the former Everton and West Brom frontman until April.
Anichebe will spend six weeks in a leg brace and joins an already lengthy injury list at the Stadium of Light.
No club in the top flight has suffered with injuries like the bottom-of-the-table team.
Midfielders Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and youngsters Paddy McNair, and Duncan Watmore are already on the sidelines – with McNair and Watmore out for the season.
Until pulling his hamstring at Burnley on New Year’s Eve, Anichebe had enjoyed a good run of fitness and form, becoming a big favouriteoftheWearsidefaithful in the process.
He played a key role in the club’s run of four wins in seven Premier League games
Jason Denayer, who was hurt at the same time against the Baggies, and forced off is expected to be fit to face Spurs on Tuesday, while Lynden Gooch has returned to full training.
Experienced midfielder Steven Pienaar has missed the last five matches, though he is running again after recovering from calf trouble.
Ex-Middlesbrough forward Diego Fabbrini has joined Italian Serie B side Spezia on loan from Championship side Birmingham until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent deal. The 26-year-old cost £1.5m from Boro in January 2016.
Leicester City have sold defender Luis Hernandez to Malaga for an undisclosed fee, after just eight appearances in six months after signing from Sporting Gijon.
Kilmarnock have sold top scorer Souleymane Coulibaly to Egyptian outfit Al Ahly for £800,000, six months after signing him on a free.