SUNDERLAND striker Nicklas Bendtner is a huge doubt for Sunday's Wear-Tees FA Cup derby after a scan confirmed he had fractured his nose.
Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill was forced into an early substitution in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Swansea City at the Stadium of Light when visiting defender Angel Rangel had accidentally clipped the Dane’s face with his boot.
A dejected Bendtner was helped off the pitch to be replaced by Connor Wickham, before taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.
As ever with nose injuries, a timescale for his return to action has been difficult to predict. Depending on how serious the injury is, the player could be out for a number of weeks.
However, if the injury is not too serious Bendtner could adopt a protective mask like team-mate Simon Mignolet has. Plus, Newcastle defender Steven Taylor suffered a nasal injury last season and within a fortnight was back in action thanks to the aid of a mask.
Whether or not he could be fitted up with one within the next few days and given the green light for the FA Cup fourth round home tie against Middlesbrough remains to be seen, but the visit of Norwich
City to Wearside next week might be a more feasible option.
The head of Sunderland’s medical department, Dr Glen Rae, said: “The results of the scans have been received and Nicklas will now undergo further treatment.
“Sunderland Royal Hospital provided a first-class response and I would like to thank them for their assistance.”
As for the Boro clash, Black Cats defender Wes Brown can’t wait for kick-off and despite a derby being unpredictable at the best of times, he sees this tie as an ideal opportunity for Sunderland to take a step nearer to Wembley.
He said: “It is a big tie for me. It will be a good match. Middlesbrough are doing OK at the minute – despite losing at Coventry.
“The fans will be really up for it and this type of tie makes it all the more exciting – that’s what the FA Cup is all about.
“If I’m being honest, I don’t really get involved in the derby stuff. I’ve just been thinking about the next game (since the draw was made), and I suppose we’ll be thinking about this cup tie now that it is our next game.
“A cup run would be great – we’ve got a good chance and if we beat Middlesbrough it brings us a step closer to Wembley.”
