Scotland forward Ross Stewart will miss the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles injury at the weekend.
The Sunderland striker has scored 10 goals in 13 games in the English championship this season despite a double injury setback.
The 26-year-old had just returned from a three-month layoff with a calf problem when he was stretchered off during an FA Cup game at Fulham on Saturday.
Sunderland have now confirmed the former Ross County and St Mirren player will be out until the summer.
Stewart has two Scotland caps after making his international debut last June and would have been in Steve Clarke’s plans for next month’s Euro qualifiers had he been fit.
But he will now definitely miss the games against Cyprus and Spain at Hampden in March and is a doubt for Norway and Georgia in June.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray had feared the worst after the clash, saying: “It looks like an Achilles injury for Ross.
“They are long injuries and it’s devastating for him and for us.”
Sunderland are currently two points off the Premier League play-off places in ninth.
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