Lynden Gooch's ever-present record in the Championship is under threat after he went off injured at half-time in Sunderland's win against Wigan Athletic. The 26-year-old suffered an injury to his foot early in the game against the Latics and, while he continued until half-time, he did not re-emerge for the second period and Amad Diallo was brought on to replace him.
Boss Tony Mowbray revealed afterwards that Gooch's foot was 'trampled' on, and he was in pain at half-time. The question now is whether the injury will clear up in time for Sunderland's trip to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, as Gooch looks to maintain his record of starting every league game for the Black Cats this season.
"I think the lad stood on his foot, really," said Mowbray. "I think he's been trampled on, and he was really sore and bruised, and it twisted as well a little bit.
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"He tried to carry on but at half-time he was in a lot of discomfort so we brought him off. Whether he can recover in two or three days [in time to play at Blackburn], we'll have to wait and see."
Skipper Corry Evans missed the win against Wigan due to suspension after accumulating five yellow cards, but he will be available to face his former club at Ewood Park in midweek. French midfielder Abdoullah Ba was left out of the matchday squad against the Latics, but Mowbray says it was purely a selection decision rather than due to injury.
He said: "Abdoullah was rotated out. I have a lot of empathy with the group. Leon Dajaku was left out the other week, [Edouard] Michut was left out the other week, yesterday we left Ba out. They all have an opportunity tomorrow to come and knock on my door - we're training today."
Sunderland brought in a crop of four young players towards the end of the transfer window in August, with Ba, Michut, Amad, and Jewison Bennette all arriving on Wearside. All have seen first-team action, but Mowbray says he is still trying to integrate them into his squad, and give them the gametime they need while demonstrating that they must earn the right to play at first team level ahead of some of the players who helped Sunderland get out of League One and into the Championship.
He said: "I'm trying to integrate a lot of players to make them feel part of what we're doing. They're new, and they just have to work hard.
"They have to keep their heads down and show, when their opportunities come, that they can be a part of this group - and I would say that this group is quite tight, if you think of the ones who have been part of the League One campaign, and been to the Gillinghams and the Fleetwoods and grind out results at those grounds. It's difficult for outsiders to show that they have the same qualities to help this team move forward and those young lads have to know that it isn't as easy as just having loads of talent and being the best player."
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