Aji Alese may need a scan tomorrow after limping out of Sunderland's defeat at Blackburn Rovers with a foot injury, according to Tony Mowbray. Defender Alese was substituted midway through the second half at Ewood Park after winning a 50-50 with Rovers' teenager Jake Garrett, who was making his Championship debut.
Alese received lengthy treatment but could not continue, and Mowbray said the 21-year-old was unhappy with the challenge. The Sunderland boss will be hoping that no serious damage has been done, as Alese has been in excellent form in recent weeks.
"He looked in a lot of discomfort, I have to say, lying on that bed with a huge pack of ice around his foot," said Mowbray. "I'm hoping it's a kick, but I think he might have twisted it in the challenge as well.
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"He's pretty upset about it, to be honest. He though it was a really bad tackle. We'll have to see.
"If he needs a scan tomorrow, he needs a scan. We'll have to let it settle and see what the aftermath of it is."
There was better news on Lynden Gooch, although he did not even travel to Blackburn after going off with a foot injury in Saturday's win against Wigan at the Stadium of Light. Gooch underwent a scan on Monday and was still hobbling, but Mowbray says the versatile defender has a chance of bring fit to face Burnley on Wearside this weekend.
Mowbray said: "Lynden was struggling to walk without limping. He didn't travel because he couldn't even walk properly.
"I don't think there is any lasting damage for Lynden. I think he might have half a chance for the weekend.
"I think it was just a really severe bone bruising that was very painful. Let's see.
"I sit here now thinking that Lynden should be alright for the weekend, yet he was hobbling pretty badly on Monday so I didn't even put him on the squad list."
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