Sunderland’s number one goalkeeper, Vito Mannone, could be out of action for some time after suffering an elbow injury in training today.
David Moyes revealed in his press conference that the 28-year-old collided with Joel Asoro in training and has been sent to hospital for scans. Several rumours have now emerged that the Italian has fractured his elbow, but this is yet to be confirmed. Moyes did, however, say that he was “worried” about the goalie.
Twitter: Hearing Mannone injury is serious. Never rains but it pours. Good chance for Pickford. #SAFC (@DavidJonesSky)
Pickford is very highly rated. He impressed on loan at Preston in the Championship last season and won man of the match when he made his Premier League début against Spurs earlier this year – despite conceding three goals.
A more pressing issue for Sunderland will be whether or not to recruit an experienced third choice keeper to act as an understudy to Pickford. The Black Cats released Steve Harper at the end of last season and the development squad’s Max Stryjek is currently in line to be on the bench – but he has never played a professional game of senior football.
Re-signing Harper would be an unlikely move, as the 40-year-old keeper is now a coach at his former club Newcastle. Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, however, is available after being released by champions Leicester City.
Perhaps somewhat ironically, it was an injury to Keiren Westwood that gave Mannone the chance to challenge for the number one spot in 2013. Now, it may well be an injury that sees him ousted.
