Sunderland midfielder suffers another injury blow | OneFootball

Sunderland boss Jack Ross has confirmed that Ethan Robson will miss the start of the new season due to injury.

Robson missed the final two pre-season games with a thigh issue and will not recover in time for Saturday’s season opener against Oxford United.

After impressing on loan at Dundee last season, the 22-year-old was expected to kick on this season, but he will now have to wait for his chance.

“Ethan has a thigh strain,” Ross told reporters.

“Frustrating for him, it’s fairly minor but no indication yet as to when he’ll be back.

“There’s an element of him needing to create that resilience because you need to make that impression, the way Elliot has in pre-season.

“Ethan is coming up on 23 so hopefully he can grasp that [chance] and put this behind him.

“These niggles obviously set you back.”

Ross also had some good news and bad news about the fitness of other players in his squad.

“Glenn Loovens and Charlie Wyke will also miss the game,” added the Black Cats boss.

“Duncan [Watmore], Chris [Maguire], Aiden [McGeady] and Max [Power] have had pre-season injuries but we’re hoping they’ll be around the squad.

“Duncan trained today without a reaction so that puts him in and around the squad.”