Sky Bet League One club Sunderland’s promotion hopes have been dealt a blow with the news that attacking midfielder Chris Maguire will be out of action for up to eight weeks.
The 30-year-old Bellshill-born midfielder has featured heavily for The Black Cats this season with Maguire having made 36 appearances for the club in all competitions in which he has scored seven goals.
Maguire sustained an injury to his fibula during the first half of Sunderland’s 4-2 Sky Bet League One victory over Gillingham at The Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening and manager Jack Ross has now told official club media sources that the midfielder has suffered a fracture and will be sidelined until mid-April.
The player’s injury is a real blow for The Black Cats with the Wearside club currently battling for an automatic promotion place. Sunderland currently trail second placed Barnsley by four points, although they do boast a game in hand over The Tykes. Maguire could miss at least nine league fixtures with Sunderland’s home match against Coventry City on 13 April being the earliest which he is likely to return.
Maguire signed a two-year deal with Sunderland last summer after the midfielder had spent last season playing in the same division with former club Bury.
