'Forget the next three games' - Sunderland dealt Alex Pritchard injury blow

Sunderland will have to do without influential midfielder Alex Pritchard for the next three games at least.

Mowbray suffered a recurrence of his calf injury in the 4-1 win at Wigan, and he had already been ruled out for the FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury.

He is certain to miss more Championship action too, including the home game against Middlesbrough.

"I think it's about as bad as it was first time round," Mowbray confirmed.

"We're anticipating that he will be out anywhere from two to four weeks - I was going to say three weeks, but it could be a bit more or a bit less.

“He probably needs to do a full week's training, rather than just two or three days game-prep training [as he did in the run-up to the Wigan game] and thinking that he's ready.”

Pritchard was a surprise name on the teamsheet at Wigan, and he lasted just six minutes after coming onto the pitch as a second-half substitute.

At the time Mowbray said he felt there was no risk in using him at the DW Stadium, but he says there will be an abundance of caution this time around.

"I think we'll be more cautious building up this second time around after an injury like that,” he said. “Forget the Swansea game next weekend, and you can probably forget Middlesbrough the week after that.

"The good thing is that we are not playing back-to-back three-game weeks at the moment, so he is not missing lots and lots of games. He'll miss maybe three or four games and then he should be ready."

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