Aji Alese has joined Sunderland's list of long-term injury list with the defender ruled out for the remainder of the season. The 22-year-old was substituted at half-time in last Saturday's defeat against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light, with boss Tony Mowbray explaining afterwards that the left-back had been withdrawn due to injury rather than as a tactical change.
And this morning the club has confirmed that a thigh injury will prevent Alese playing again this season. A statement from the club said: "Sunderland AFC can confirm that Aji Alese will miss the remainder of the season due to a thigh problem.
"The defender picked up the injury during Saturday's defeat to Stoke in the Sky Bet Championship. Wishing you a speedy recover, Aji!"
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Alese is the third Sunderland player to suffer a season-ending injury since the turn of the year, with star striker Ross Stewart and captain Corry Evans sustaining Achilles and cruciate ligament injuries respectively in January. Midfielder Elliot Embleton suffered a broken ankle in December but Mowbray has held out the possibility that he could return in the final weeks of the season, although that is by no means a given.
Alese joined Sunderland from West Ham in the summer and initially played in central defence, but more recently he has played at left-back and impressed in that position. Regular left-back Dennis Cirkin suffered concussion in Sunderland's draw at Millwall at the beginning of February and, while he made a brief return last month, he has still not fully recovered and it is unlikely he will be in the squad that travels to Norwich City this weekend.
Luke O'Nien came off the bench to replace Alese last weekend and he could be asked to start at left-back at Carrow Road on Sunday.
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