Sunderland have suffered a significant blow just over a month into their return to the Premier League.
On Tuesday (September 23), it was confirmed that The Black Cats’ summer signing Habib Diarra had been ruled until December due to a groin problem.
The 21-year-old suffered the injury in training last week, forcing him to miss his side’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa this past Sunday (September 21).
The midfielder moved to the Stadium of Light at the start of the summer transfer window for a club-record fee of £30m from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Prior to picking up this latest injury, he had started all four of Sunderland’s league matches and seemed to be forming a solid midfield trio alongside fellow new signings Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.
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The setback for Diarra will be a frustrating one for Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, as his side have endured a good start to life in English football’s top division.
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The team sit seventh in the Premier League table and have collected eight points after five games.
Upcoming Sunderland fixtures which Diarra is set to miss
Diarra is set to miss a crucial period of the season due to his groin injury, with Le Bris unable to call on him for at least the next eight Premier League fixtures.
The Senegal international will therefore be unavailable for his team’s following games against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Wolves, Chelsea, Everton, Arsenal, Fulham and Bournemouth.
Fixtures with Liverpool and Manchester City in early December may prove to be too soon for Diarra to return to action, so The Black Cats will be hoping the player can return for the Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle United on December 13.
If that is not possible, the midfielder should be fit for games against either Brighton or Leeds United around Christmas.
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