Club silent on Edwards break claims

Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards is understood to have broken his leg in Saturday’s dramatic victory over Derby.

The club have, however, refused to comment on reports the 29-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international fractured a bone in his leg in a challenge with Rams full-back Jay McEveley.

He limped off the pitch with 13 minutes remaining and was replaced by Anthony Stokes, the man whose injury-time goal clinched three precious points at the death.

Edwards could now face up to eight weeks on the sidelines, including the crucial Christmas programme, and that would come as a huge blow to manager Roy Keane.

Further details are expected to be revealed at Keane’s pre-match press conference on Friday.

The midfielder, a £1.4m signing from Luton in January, left the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening on crutches just three games into his return from a hamstring injury.

Edwards, one of the stars of Sunderland’s push for promotion to the top flight in the second half of last season, tore his hamstring in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham on August 15 and was out of action for almost three months.

He returned for the 1-1 derby draw with Newcastle on November 10 but could now face another extended spell in the treatment room.