Sunderland and Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson suffers fresh injury woe

Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson has suffered his latest injury setback as the luckless Derryman faces at least two months on the sidelines with a groin injury.

 

The former Manchester United player has been reborn at Sunderland under new manager Chris Coleman and has become a mainstay in the Welshman's midfield.

 

The 30-year-old has struggled with persistent groin injuries in the past and required surgery while at Everton a little over a year ago.

 

And the cultured midfielder could require another operation after suffering his latest setback, with a third specialist set to look at the injury in the coming days.

 

“It’s a big blow and tough one,” Coleman told the Black Cats' official website.

 



“We’re going to get one more opinion – we’ve had two – but we think it will be eight to ten weeks.

 

“There’s a little bit of doubt about whether it’s completely off the bone, so if it is it’ll be surgery, but if not we could get him back a little quicker.”

 

Gibson's Ireland teammate Aiden McGeady has emerged as a doubt for Saturday's FA Cup third round derby away to Middlesbrough.

 



The winger has been feeling the effects of a calf injury but continues to train with the first team and should be fit to face compatriots Cyrus Christie and Darren Randolph at the Riverside Stadium.