Michael Beale reveals Sunderland double injury blow as bad week gets worse

Sunderland will have to do without Patrick Roberts for a while as the extent of his hamstring injury was revealed.

Michael Beale has revealed that Sunderland have suffered a double injury blow as the Black Cats’ week went from bad to worse.

Patrick Roberts limped out of the midweek defeat to Huddersfield, and the full extent of his hamstring injury was uncovered by scans on Friday.

Beale has also confirmed that Elliot Embleton has suffered another setback in his recovery, with the club finding ‘something they didn’t expect.’

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Both are now expected to be out for at least a month, which is obviously far from ideal considering the stalling play-offs push.

“We won’t see either of them for a while unfortunately,” Beale confirmed. “With Paddy it’s four or five weeks, and with Embo on the scan there was something we didn’t really expect to see which we have.

“He’ll probably be the same amount of time as well which is disappointing for both.”

Sunderland have not had as bad a time with injuries as they did last season, although they are starting to pile up a little.

Niall Huggins will be missing for months with a serious knee injury which fellow left-backs Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese are also currently out.

Corry Evans, meanwhile, is ready to re-join training but will do so with the under-21s for now. No timescale has been put on his return.

January signing Callum Styles will likely be in the squad for the first time for the home game against Swansea next week. 

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