Cats can cope but are more vulnerable
Another spell on the sidelines will come as a bitter blow to Charlie Wyke, who had watched on eagerly as Sunderland made a flying start to the season.
His Black Cats career had got off to the perfect start when he turned in Lynden Gooch’s cross against Oxford Town just minutes after stepping off the bench for his first appearance, but he is now likely to be out for two months.
It will then be about rebuilding his match fitness and rhythm as he had to after arriving on Wearside.
On a personal note, it is a bitter blow for the player who has, as he said in his own words after that Oxford game, worked hard for the chance to play for a club like Sunderland.
He has proved himself in the tough environment of the lower leagues and was determined to take this chance.
There will be time for that, of course, and many fans expected the prognosis to be worse given the ferocious nature of the collision.
Wyke can bounce back, of course, but there will be no disguising his frustration.
It leaves Jack Ross and his Sunderland team vulnerable.
Though he accepted a fourth out-and-out striker might not be necessary due to Josh Maja’s stunning early season form, Ross had hoped to add one more versatile forward in the closing days of the transfer window.
The ongoing saga with wantaway duo Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong put pay to that and underlines the challenge that Sunderland still have in coming to terms with their ruinous Premier League legacy. Sunderland have the biggest budget, yes, but have not had the chance to build the most balanced squad. Sinclair and Maja are more than good enough to cope in Wyke’s absence and being a manager who favours mobile, fluid, flexible front lines, Ross is capable of coping too.
Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady’s return to fitness will provide an extra attacking option on the flanks for Sunderland, while Chris Maguire has already shown that he knows where the goal is and is capable of chipping in with crucial strikes.
It was for that reason that a fourth striker seemed not to be an absolute necessity.
That remains the case, and opportunity knocks for the superbly talented Maja, but Sunderland are certainly vulnerable should another injury strike.
They can cope in the short term, without a doubt, and have the talent to thrive, but it is a problem Ross could certainly do without.