Injury rules out Black Cat Brown

Under-pressure Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy was dealt a fresh blow today when striker Chris Brown was ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old was handed a first Premiership start for the Black Cats against Liverpool last Wednesday and kept his place for Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Tottenham.

However, he left White Hart Lane having been replaced by Andy Gray because of his injury, and he now faces a frustrating period on the sidelines as the club’s fight for top-flight survival reaches the point of no return.

“It’s a nightmare, really,” Brown told the club’s official website, www.safc.com. “I’d just got my chance to play up front and I was buzzing.

“Being in the treatment room does my head in. I just want to be out there playing. It was a great chance for me to establish myself in the side. I have always wanted to play in the Premier league with Sunderland and now I’ll have to wait.

“I was enjoying the Tottenham game, but I knew it wasn’t right when I landed badly after a header. I tried to carry on, but I couldn’t.”

Brown is wearing a special boot to protect his sprained ankle, and will join fellow striker Stephen Elliott in the treatment room as he fights to overcome a back problem, while Kevin Kyle continues his rehabilitation from hip cartilage surgery.

That is likely to leave McCarthy having to pick from just three front men - Gray, Jon Stead and Anthony Le Tallec – for Saturday’s trip to Charlton.