Sunderland hit by double injury blow ahead of Southampton trip

Lee Cattermole has been ruled out of Sunderland's clash at Southampton this weekend, with skipper John O'Shea also a major doubt.

Substitute Cattermole was forced off with 10 minutes to go in last night’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace after a nasty clash of heads with Jordon Mutch left the midfielder covered in blood from a facial wound.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that Cattermole also suffered concussion in the incident and will not feature at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Centre-half O’Shea is also a doubt after lasting less than half-an-hour last night due to a tight calf, while January signing Jan Kirchhoff came off through fatigue.

Allardyce said: “O’Shea had a tight calf, Kirchhoff was feeling the pace of the Premier League so we took him off before he got injured.

“I thought he was a big loss when he came off; we lost the midfield.

“I think he’s going to be very important for us.

“And Lee Cattermole unfortuantely, looks like he’s got concussion as well as a cut.

“He’s not feeling too well at the moment. He’ll miss Southampton.”