Carl Winchester is set to be sidelined for 'weeks rather than days' - meaning he could potentially miss out on involvement in the play-offs, if Sunderland qualify. The Northern Ireland international defender limped off with a groin injury just 10 minutes into the Black Cats' 5-1 win against Cambridge United at the Stadium of Light last weekend.
He underwent scans in the week to assess the extent of the injury, and boss Alex Neil said the 29-year-old would struggle to play a part in the remainder of the campaign. "It's not particularly good [news]," said Neil. "It's certainly going to be weeks rather than days."
Winchester will play no part in Sunderland's final League One game at Morecambe tomorrow and, should the Black Cats secure a top six finish, the fact that the first legs of the play-off semi-finals take place at the end of next week, with the second legs just three days later, means he would not be ready to play in those games either.
