Sunderland dealt fresh injury blow as new signing could miss Middlesbrough clash.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Browne is an injury doubt for this weekend’s North East game.
Sunderland could be hit with a fresh injury blow after it emerged Alan Browne could miss Saturday’s clash against Middlesbrough because of a knee problem. The midfielder has made four appearances so far this season but is a doubt for this weekend’s Wear-Tees derby at the Stadium of Light.
Browne has been complaining of discomfort in his knee, and has undergone a series of tests to ascertain the extent of the problem. The Republic of Ireland international attended a question and answer session at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening alongside Sunderland’s other summer signings – with his leg in a protective brace.
He told fans the brace was a precautionary measure at this stage, and is hoping for good news when the results of his medical tests are revealed. Clearly, Sunderland are sweating on the results of a scan to ascertain whether Browne faces a spell on the sidelines.
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He is clearly a doubt for Saturday’s showdown with Boro and there is a chance he could be facing an extended period on the sidelines if his knee issue is shown to be serious.
Browne joined Sunderland as a free agent in the summer following his departure from Preston, and has made two starts and two substitute appearances this season, scoring in the win over Portsmouth. He was dropped in favour of Dan Neil for the defeat at Plymouth.
Midfielder Samis Abdul Samed was also present at the event on Tuesday night but remains at least a week away from being able to play. Sunderland’s medical staff have spent the first part of the week assessing the injury that forced Dan Ballard to hobble from the field in the closing stages of Saturday’s defeat at Plymouth.
Ballard left Home Park on crutches, with his foot in a protective boot, and is understood to have had a series of scans following his return to the North East. If Ballard is unavailable for the weekend, Chris Mepham is likely to step in to make his Sunderland debut, having joined the Black Cats on deadline day in a loan move from Bournemouth.
