Sunderland boss David Moyes has been dealt yet another blow after the club confirmed that key midfielder Jan Kirchhoff could be out of action for up to eight weeks.
The 26-year-old German was carried from the field on a stretcher during Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with West Brom, and scans have since revealed the extent of the damage to his hamstring.
A club statement said: 'Jan Kirchhoff has been ruled out for a minimum of six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during Sunderland's draw against West Bromwich Albion.
'The former Bayern Munich player was stretchered off in Saturday's game at the Stadium of Light and in order to assess the extent of the injury, the 26-year-old underwent a scan which revealed he will be out for six to eight weeks.