Sunderland's injury problems mount as four take knocks during Liverpool defeat

20 March 2011 18:34
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was left counting the cost of a disastrous afternoon after his injury list grew once again in the wake of defeat by Liverpool.[LNB]Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson both limped off before Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring with a controversial 33rd-minute penalty.[LNB]Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley might also have left the field had Bruce not used up his final substitution by replacing the tiring Danny Welbeck 61 minutes into his first start since January.[LNB]Hobbling off: Richardson leaves the field of play[LNB]Muntari, Bardsley and Welbeck are now rated as doubtful to join up with their respective international squads.[LNB]Bruce said: 'Phil will have a scan in the morning on his knee. Ferdinand's is a straight kick - he should be okay. Muntari's is a calf injury and Richardson's is a hamstring.[LNB]'That is a frustration for me because just as we think we are all singing and dancing again, we have lost two who have been mainstays over the last few weeks. It's frustrating.[LNB]'I will have a conversation with Stuart Pearce over Danny Welbeck and the Under-21s. I did have a conversation with Stuart, who was only going to play him in one game anyway.[LNB]'I am sure he will be sensible enough with him.[LNB]'We have made a call to the Scottish FA - I can't see Phil joining up. I can't see Muntari joining up with Ghana, but until we have scans and get results.[LNB]'They have got to report these days to their own FAs, but I would have thought they would all be extremely doubtful.'[LNB]  Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2: Kuyt and Suarez on target in controversial win Henry back to watch Liverpool and unveil his Anfield planDalglish in talks over signing two-year permanent deal as Liverpool managerAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion [LNB]  Explore more:People: Dirk Kuyt, Steve Bruce, Stuart Pearce, Danny Welbeck Places: Liverpool, Ghana

Source: Daily_Mail