SUNDERLAND face a nervous wait for further news on Chris Mepham's hamstring injury after the defender was forced off in the late stages of Friday night's draw at Burnley.

Regis Le Bris said he was unsure on the severity of the injury when he spoke to the media immediately after the game.

He was expecting an update from Sunderland's medical team this morning, when Mepham will be closely assessed.

It would be a major blow if the Bournemouth loanee was to face any sort of spell on the sidelines, with the centre-half having established himself as a hugely important figure in Sunderland's defence.

Le Bris said: "We don't know at the minute. We'll see tomorrow morning for the diagnosis.

"It was a pain around the hamstring."

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Sunderland did at least welcome Dan Ballard back into the squad at Burnley, with the central defender having returned from the injury he suffered in the home win over Norwich last month. He replaced Mepham for the final stages.

But with Aji Alese facing a long spell on the sidelines, a further defensive injury blow is the last thing Sunderland need.

Le Bris revealed earlier this week that Alese's injury wouldn't prompt Sunderland into signing another defender this month, but said any further defensive setbacks could change that stance.

Before Mepham's injury, he said: "At the moment, I think we have six good players (in defence) ready to play.

“That is a good situation, but it is probably the limit. With one less, it would be a problem, so we will see what happens and then we will decide.”