The Sunderland striker Fabio Borini is facing up to three months on the sidelines after tearing his groin muscle on his comeback from a toe injury. The 25-year-old suffered the torn ligament while taking a free-kick in the 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday before being substituted. It leaves David Moyes with Jermain Defoe as the club’s only recognised striker, alongside the 17-year-old Sweden forward Joel Asoro.
Borini will join long-term absentees Vito Mannone and Sebastian Larsson on the sidelines, while midfielders Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff have not managed a single appearance between them so far this season.
“There are players who need to come in,” said Defoe after the draw at Southampton on Saturday. “I think Fabio got a little twinge of his groin but again, I thought Fabio was fantastic. He has not trained that much to come back in the team but his energy levels were good.”
Sunderland failed in their attempts to sign the Norwich City forward Steven Naismith before Wednesday’s transfer deadline, although they completed moves for the Manchester City defender Jason Denayer, on a season-long loan, and midfielder Didier Ndong, who signed a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile, Mannone’s deputy Jordan Pickford has returned from international duty with England’s Under-21s with a slight thigh strain, although he is expected to be fit for the home clash with Everton on Monday 12 September.