Delap to undergo surgery

Sunderland midfielder Rory Delap could miss the rest of the season after being told he needs an operation to repair his broken nose.

The 29-year-old suffered the injury in a clash of heads with team-mate George McCartney during his side’s abandoned Premiership clash with Fulham earlier this month.

He was due to play at Manchester United on Good Friday, but a nose bleed during the warm-up saw him withdrawn from the squad.

“We have to do what is right for Rory,” caretaker boss Kevin Ball told the club’s official website, www.safc.com.

“It was quite bizarre how all week he was all right to play on Friday and then he broke down.

“Maybe the adrenaline started it off and since then we haven’t been able to sort it out. We have to make sure it’s right and make sure he’s okay.

“His season could be finished. I wouldn’t want to put Rory in any position where he felt he had to play.

“I would only ever consider putting him in if his fitness was right. If he has an operation and it’s 10 days to recover, you are talking two and a half weeks since he trained properly.

“It’s a lot to ask, even though he’s a fit lad.”