Westwood ruled out for rest of season

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is set to miss the rest of the season after being forced to delay an operation on his shoulder because of illness.

The 29-year-old Sunderland goalkeeper has been sidelined for several weeks by the problem, which requires an operation to correct.

However, a scheduled appointment has had to be cancelled because Westwood has been ill and is taking a course of anti-biotics, and that delay means his season could effectively be over.

Black Cats boss Gus Poyet said: “It has been postponed because of a little illness. You cannot have an operation when you are ill, so he is on antibiotics now.”

Asked how long the player is likely to be out, the Uruguayan said: “I would like to say three to four months. Now, if you are going to think when is the season going to finish, it’s probably to the end, yes.”

Poyet admits Sunderland’s January transfer dealings will determine whether or not they remain in the Premier League.

The Black Cats face League One Carlisle in the FA Cup third round tomorrow. However, they will do so with work ongoing behind the scenes in a bid to strengthen the squad the Uruguayan inherited from predecessor Paolo Di Canio in October, with the club lying at the foot of the table and in serious danger of slipping out of the top-flight once again.

Asked if the success or otherwise of that mission would determine the destiny of their season, a frank Poyet said: “Yes.

“We have been there already with three different managers or head coaches or caretakers with this group of players, and the team is bottom somehow, so we need a little bit of help. We will see.

“Now I need to choose well and make sure we get the ones who can really help us to change the season around, that simple.”

Director of Football Roberto De Fanti presided over a 14-man influx of players during the summer, but the deficiencies within the squad remain alarming and Poyet is desperate for reinforcements.

The Black Cats are understood to be in negotiations with the 46-year-old’s former club Brighton over midfield duo Liam Bridcutt and Will Buckley, having already completed the loan signing of Fiorentina full-back Marcos Alonso.

Poyet is also having to contend with speculation that some of his existing squad could be tempted away from Wearside this month with Celtic and Hull having been linked with Scotland international striker Steven Fletcher.