Gyan Steback Aggravates Sunderland Injury Crisis

Asamoah Gyan pulls up as he holds his hamstring against Wigan Athletic.

SUNDERLAND are facing a striker crisis that threatens their chances of a top-10 finish.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce saw Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck suffer hamstring injuries in yesterday’s 4-2 win over Wigan – leaving him with NO fit senior strikers available for the final four games of the season.

On-loan Manchester United man Welbeck limped off in the first half after aggravating an existing problem, while Gyan pulled up sharply in the second half and left the field on a stretcher.

If scans confirm Bruce’s worst fears, both players could be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

And with Fraizer Campbell having been ruled out for a year after undergoing knee ligament and Achilles surgery last week, Bruce’s only options would be to employ Stephane Sessegnon as an out-and-out striker or turn to 18-year-old rookie Ryan Noble.

Noble has been a prolific scorer at reserve and youth levels but has made only four first-team appearances, three for Sunderland and one while on loan at Derby before Christmas, and has never started a senior game.