Cats stunner as McGeady faces three months on the sidelines
He is going to have an extended spell on the sidelines which is very disappointing because of the quality he brings
AIDEN McGeady will be out of action for between two and three months with a knee ligament injury in a major blow to Sunderland’s promotion campaign.
The Black Cats could also lose midfielder Luke O’Nien for an extended spell if he is told he can no longer put off an operation on his shoulder.
Winger McGeady has struggled with foot and hamstring issues this season but this latest problem occurred in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury Town when he kicked the ground as he took a shot.
Head coach Lee Johnson confirmed the 35-year-old would be sidelined until well into the New Year, saying: “Aiden had a shot and he just stubbed the ground.
“He is going to have an extended spell on the sidelines which is very disappointing because of the quality he brings.
“It is a Grade Two medial collateral ligament injury and he will probably out for somewhere between eight and 12 weeks.”
O’Nien has an ongoing problem after dislocating his shoulder in December, since when the same injury has flared up several times.
He has been able to continue playing and Sunderland were hoping to postpone an operation to have the shoulder pinned until the end of the season - but it has become increasingly clear that is unlikely.
O’Nien is due to nsee a specialist to decide the next step but Johnson knows the chances are he will be without another key player for a period of time.
It is a loss which will be keenly felt because O’Nien is capable of covering several positions which has been a major plus while Sunderland have no fit full-backs.
Johnson added: “Luke is having real trouble with his shoulder which keeps popping out every other day.
“He has been brilliant. He could have demanded this operation six to eight weeks ago but he is an absolute warrior and has battled through.
“You get a sublux where the shoulder pops out and pops back in.
“When it starts to affect your daily life like holding your kids, or in a match holding off an opponent, you have to start seriously considering an operation and it is at that stage now.
“We have to take the expertise and advice from the surgeon, it is as simple as that.
“It will also depend on what operation dates are available, whether or not Luke is in pain, whether the surgeon says his arm is going to fall off!
“All these elements will have to be considered but we will make the right decision both for the player and the club.”
Johnson says Sunderland have ‘seven or eight’ injuries going into this afternoon’s game at Cambridge United but that total includes longer-term absentees such as Jordan Willis, Niall Huggins, Denver Hume, Lee Burge, and Cirkin, along with McGeady.
Left-back Cirkin was due to have hernia surgery yesterday and Johnson expects him to be sidelined for between four and seven weeks.
He said: “It is a double hernia and it depends what they the surgeons do - they will either sew it or they will put in a mesh by keyhole.
“Depending which of those they do, it will alter the recovery process. Dennis is a young player so it will take a little bit longer to make sure he is absolutely right.”