DAVID Meyler could be back in the Sunderland side in just a couple of months as initial checks on his injured knee suggest the damage is not as severe as he first thought.

Meyler collapsed in agony during the first half of Sunderland’s battling 1-0 win at Aston Villa and manager Steve Bruce claimed after the game he had ruptured his cruciate ligaments for the second time in the space of just nine months.

That was certainly Meyler’s fear as he sat in the dressing room at half-time, but he was in far better spirits at Sunderland’s training ground yesterday morning. Although the knee was still painful, The Journal understands there has been no significant swelling, which implies the cruciate ligaments have not been badly damaged.

It is now looking more likely the 21-year-old has damaged his medial ligaments in the knee, which is a far less serious injury and does not require the same lengthy rehabilitation after surgery. Although the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international will be missing for several weeks, he will play again this season, which is a big boost given the gloomy predictions about his future on Wednesday night.

Sunderland will not know the full extent of Meyler’s injury until they get the results of a scan this morning, but having suffered cruciate damage back in May, the player feels this is not as bad now the initial shock of injuring the same knee again has

subsided. Bruce will also be hoping for some good news regarding Danny Welbeck. The striker, who also left the pitch on a stretcher against Villa, fears he has torn his hamstring which will mean four to six weeks on the sidelines.

But there is a chance he has only strained it, which will mean he only needs to rest for a couple of weeks and could even play against Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby on January 16.