Sunderland´s double defensive blow

Sunderland’s defence has been dealt a double injury blow with news Michael Turner and Titus Bramble both have serious knee injuries.

Turner collided with the post when making a goal-line clearance in his side’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Monday in the English Premier League, with scans revealing the 27-year-old had suffered ligament damage, ruling him out for ‘months’.

“It’s horrible news. Michael whacked his knee against the post on Monday and damaged knee ligaments,” Sunderland boss Steve Bruce told the club’s official website.

“He’ll see a specialist today. I believe it could be months rather than weeks and that’s a big blow to us.”

Bramble will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair damaged cartilage in his knee after a training mishap, with the 29-year-old out for at least six weeks.

Bruce said while his strikers have been getting much of the credit for Sunderland’s climb to seventh place in the Premier League standings, the loss of the defensive duo was a hammer blow for his side.

“Danny (Welbeck), Darren (Bent) and Asamoah (Gyan) take the plaudits but in Michael and Titus we have lost a big partnership who have done very, very well for us,” Bruce said.

“I hope the ones who come in can do the job which they’ve been doing. They’ll be a big act to follow, I have to tell you.”