Sunderland manager Steve Bruce looking to sign at least one striker in the summer after Fraizer Campbell’s recent injury setback

EPL : Steve Bruce , Sunderland and West Ham (Getty Images)

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After it was revealed last week that Fraizer Campbell would miss up to 12 months of action, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has revealed he will be looking to sign at least one more striker in the summer.

The news about Campbell has also made other injury news look even worse after Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck were ruled out for the rest of the season, meaning that Sunderland are without a fit first-team striker until the summer.

For the remainder of the season, it is likely that January signing Stephane Sessegnon and Kieran Richardson will be used as make-shift strikers, but the injuries have definitely exposed the Black Cats’ frailties.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, Bruce said: “Fraizer gets operated on today. He will be out for 12 months.

“He was out on the training ground yesterday having a bit of banter with the players. He’s taken it okay because he is strong mentally.

“Thankfully, with his strength of mind, we think he will be okay. I hope he will be. If there’s anyone mentally tough enough, it’s him.”

Campbell’s injury has further frustrated Bruce because after expecting him to return by April, he decided not to buy another forward, believing the former Manchester United man would be able to be the equivalent of a new signing, but he has now said he has to buy in the summer.

He added: “In January, I was looking at March and April for Fraizer to be fit, and he was making such great progress.

“It stopped me from going for another striker because I thought Fraizer would be fit in six weeks.

“It puts a bit more pressure on us for next season. Going forward as a club, we have to look to get over it because in the summer, we have got one striker.”