Overview

• Sunderland confirmed the 21-year-old sustained a groin injury in training before the Aston Villa match and has begun rehabilitation at the Academy of Light.
• Club guidance sets December for a potential comeback, with reports suggesting he could miss at least nine Premier League fixtures before then.
• Outlets mapped likely absences including trips to Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, plus the Tyne–Wear derby against Newcastle on December 13.
• His status also affects international duty, with reports indicating he will miss Senegal’s October World Cup qualifiers and is unlikely to be ready for AFCON, which starts December 21.
• The midfielder joined from RC Strasbourg in July for a club-record fee reported at around £30 million and had started Sunderland’s first four league games.