BROBBEY INJURY WORRY
Sunderland have been hit by a worrying injury blow involving Brian Brobbey.
The striker was forced off during the Netherlands’ 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany after suffering a hamstring problem.
The timing is particularly frustrating for Sunderland.
Brobbey had started the season strongly and had become one of the club’s most important attacking players. His hat-trick against Manchester City had already made him one of the Premier League’s biggest talking points.
Now his club future for the next few weeks is uncertain.
A Dutch medical expert has described the injury as potentially serious and blamed the demanding football calendar for the growing number of muscle problems among elite players.
That warning will concern Sunderland.
The club have Europa League commitments ahead, meaning they need their main striker available for a demanding run of fixtures.
Brobbey has also become an important part of the Netherlands setup under Xavi Hernández. His injury therefore affects both club and country.
The exact recovery period has not yet been confirmed.
Sunderland will now wait for further medical assessment before knowing how long they could be without him.
For a team enjoying a strong return to the Premier League, losing a forward who has already scored a hat-trick against one of the division’s biggest clubs could be a major setback.