Regis Le Bris reveals how long Tommy Watson will be out with ‘unlucky’ injury, it’ll have ‘big impact’ for Sunderland

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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has offered a fresh update on Tommy Watson’s injury after the youngster was forced off in midweek.

In a cruel twist of fate, Tommy Watson began the week a Sunderland hero after scoring his first two goals for the club to secure the win over Stoke City, before picking up an injury against Bristol City just three days later.

After the game, Regis Le Bris said he wasn’t sure how serious Watson’s injury was, and mentioned he had hurt his ankle and knee in a tackle during the draw against Bristol.

Watson had said his ‘dreams have come true’ at Sunderland recently, but he may well be facing a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines now thanks to this injury nightmare.

• READ MORE: Tommy Watson changed the game vs Stoke, now his success can open the door for another Sunderland starlet

Regis Le Bris says Tommy Watson will be out for two months

Speaking to the press ahead of the weekend’s action (via the Sunderland YouTube channel), Regis Le Bris was asked for an update on Watson’s condition, and…

He said: “No, no [it is not good]. It should be two months to recover properly, with his ankle and his knee. So it was a big impact, he could have scored, but at the time it was not a very strong injury, but afterwards he will be out for two months.

“For sure [it’s a blow]. We need more players on the pitch, he started very well and now he has to wait. It’s part of the journey in his career, to face these problems. Especially in the Championship with massive intensity, big duels… but now he has to recover and it’s not an interesting or positive experience but he has to deal with it.

“It’s only two months, it could have been worse. But this is a reminder, everything is fragile. But it couldn’t have been any other way this time, he is just unlucky.”

• READ MORE: Tommy Watson names one thing he does better than Jack Clarke as he hits back at Sunderland comparisons

Eliezer Mayenda and Patrick Roberts need to step up now

With Watson out, and Romaine Mundle still a way off in his own recovery, Le Bris will need to lean on the combination of Patrick Roberts and Eliezer Mayenda on the wings for a while.

That’s not necessarily a bad position to be in, as both those players are top quality and have looked great in the last couple of games, too. The problem is, beyond that, the Sunderland squad is very thin indeed.

Hopefully, the Black Cats can avoid any further injury concerns over the next few weeks, and then, once Watson and Mundle are back, Le Bris will be spoilt for choice on both flanks.

The injury to Watson is a real shame, especially given the momentum he was building, but such is football, sadly. Now, Mayenda and Roberts have a real opportunity here to prove their worth, and they will surely grab it with both hands.