Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has admitted he hopes on-loan Everton striker Ellis Simms’ injury is not a broken toe.
Simms was forced off late in the first half of Sunderland's 3-0 win at Reading on Wednesday night after picking up a painful knock. The 21-year-old was the only senior forward available for the Black Cats after a long-term injury to Ross Stewart.
The severity of the problem is yet unknown but neither Sunderland nor Everton will want to see Simms sidelined for a long period of time. He has scored three goals in eight Championship appearances so far since his summer switch and will be desperate to carry on that momentum. And Mowbray admitted he has his fingers crossed that there is no break, adding that his medical team will undergo a scan to assess the damage.
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"It's his big toe - it's the joint of his big toe," said Mowbray after the final whistle on Wednesday evening. "He was struggling to push off. His big toe is numb at the moment. Whether we scan that tomorrow, or whether it settles down overnight, we'll have to wait and see.
“I don't think it's broken, maybe the joint has popped out or something. We need to let it settle down and then reassess it in the morning."
The Sunderland boss will likely provide a fresh update on Simms later this week, with his side set to play Watford on Saturday.
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