Worries over Tommy Watson as Regis Le Bris reveals injury situation with youngster

SUNDERLAND will send Tommy Watson for a series of scans tomorrow after the winger suffered a combination of ankle and knee injuries in this evening’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

Watson was injured in the opening 25 minutes of tonight’s game at the Stadium of Light, with his leg appearing to jar as he was tackled by Zak Vyner.

The teenager initially attempted to continue after a bout of treatment on the touchline, but was quickly forced to go back down to the floor before hobbling around the pitch to the dug-outs.

His replacement, Patrick Roberts, scored the stoppage-time goal that salvaged a point, but the satisfaction at claiming a draw was tempered by concerns over the extent of Watson’s injury.

Sunderland are already without Romaine Mundle, who is expected to be sidelined until early January.

“With Tommy, we don't have a diagnosis, so we will have to wait,” said Le Bris. “At the moment, he has a problem both with the ankle and the knee. But we don't know how serious.

“We missed Tommy, because the wingers are important against this type of defence. It is one of our main strengths to pin (the defence) inside, we can create space or switch the play. And a quick winger, good 1-v-1, can break this kind of defence. We were unlucky with Tommy, and we might have to find a solution now.”

Luke O’Nien missed this evening’s game through illness, but the defender should be back in the fold for Saturday’s trip to Swansea City.

“Luke was ill,” confirmed Le Bris. “But he should be fine for the next game.”

Sunderland fell behind when Luke McNally fired home shortly after the hour mark, but were rewarded for their persistence when Roberts squeezed home a shot in stoppage time.

“I think we deserved a point,” said Le Bris. “I thought we started well, with a good tempo, we played how we wanted. We had many switches, played into the triangles, created chances.

“We probably had a lack of bodies in the box to meet the crosses and then also to create counter-pressing opportunities.

“The first half was positive. The second was different because they changed shape and defended in a different way. We expected this could be an option for them but for 15,20 minutes we struggled and were less dominant.

“They created good situations, not very dangerous - but finally they found a solution after a set play. We had the character to score at the end and I think the equaliser was deserved. But, overall, we are frustrated because we dominated a lot.”