AHMED Elmohamady is primed to play as an emergency centre-forward as Sunderland’s injury problems turned into a full blown crisis ahead of the trip to Bolton Wanderers.
Black Cats boss Steve Bruce tried to put a brave face on yesterday as he assessed the damage done to his squad by the confirmation Lee Cattermole, Michael Turner and Kieran Richardson will not play again this season.
That means the Wearsiders will go into the final three games of a faltering campaign with 11 players missing injured, nine of whom, says Bruce, would be in his first-choice XI.
The only small piece of good news has been Jordan Henderson’s return to training, and the England midfielder will start at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon.
Turner, as revealed in The Journal yesterday, has aggravated a knee injury, while a second x-ray on Kieran Richardson’s calf has confirmed he will play no further part in the campaign because of a stress fracture.
With skipper Cattermole also told to rest after another bout of back pain, Bruce’s options are severely restricted as his side limps towards the end of season finishing line.
“I have never known anything quite like the situation we find ourselves in,” said Bruce, who still argued a four-point haul from their remaining three games will ensure Sunderland will have enjoyed their third-best season in the top flight in 55 years.
“My physio Dave Galley has not witnessed anything like it in 20 odd years in the game. We have to batten down the hatches, see it through and keep on going.
