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Sunderland manager Jack Ross had admitted via The Chronicle Live that while he would like to bring in a free-agent following the injury blow for Charlie Wyke, it appears unlikely.
What’s the word, then?
Well, according to The Chronicle Live, Wyke’s knee ligament issue is now worse than first feared and he could be out for between nine to 12 weeks, meaning he may not return to action for the Black Cats until 2019.
However, despite the fact that the Wearside outfit have been left with just two recognised centre-forwards in Jerome Sinclair and Josh Maja, Sunderland’s wage bill means it is unlikely that they will be able to bring in a new face and will have to rely on the players they have over the course of the next two or three months.
What does this all mean?
It ultimately means that given Sinclair has played just 134 minutes of League One football prior to his side’s clash with Rochdale at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, that the onus will likely be on the EFL Young Player of the Month for August, Josh Maja.
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The 19-year-old has started the campaign in outstanding fashion with five league goals in eight appearances – as well as one assist – although only one of those five has come in his previous four outings before the visit of the Dale.
Despite suffering their first defeat of the season against Burton Albion last time out, Sunderland are still well placed in the standings and just five points adrift of Portsmouth going into the weekend fixtures, although it now seems apparent that they will be relying on their talented teenager to help them hunt down Kenny Jackett’s men over the course of the next couple of months.
Maja has already proven that he can step up to the plate in the absence of players like Wyke, for whom Sunderland already have the perfect replacement for within their squad, Aiden McGeady and Duncan Watmore, and Ross will be hoping that the young attacker thrives on the opportunity to be the Black Cats’ talisman.
