Sunderland confirm Gordon blow

Relegation-threatened Sunderland will have to make do without Craig Gordon after the goalkeeper underwent knee surgery on Monday.

Gordon, 28, flew to Sweden to have his injured knee operated on by world-renowned tendon specialist Professor Hakan Alfredson on Monday, his club have confirmed.

The injury is set to keep Gordon – who broke the British transfer record signing for a goalkeeper with his nine million-pound move from Hearts in 2007 – out for up to six months.

The Scotland international has been sidelined for Sunderland’s last six English Premier League games, from which the Black Cats have managed to scrape just one point.

The ill-timed slide has seen Sunderland plummet to 15th on the table, five points clear of the drop zone with five games left in the season.

Gordon had hoped to make his way back into the side without going under the knife, with Saturday’s clash with fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic touted as a possible return date.

But further scans on his knee indicated surgery would be needed – a piece of bad news that Sunderland boss Steve Bruce said is indicative of the club’s luck at the present time.

“Craig had the operation yesterday and it went well,” Bruce said.

“He’ll be out for about four to six months now.”

“Craig’s been following a programme but when the specialist had a look at the knee again, we were left with no choice but to go ahead with the surgery.”

“That just sums our luck up at the moment.”