Sunderland beset by bad news

Promoted Sunderland AFC have been hit by a double blow with captain Dean Whitehead facing cruciate surgery and defender Clive Clarke recovering from a heart attack.

Significant injury
The 25-year-old midfielder Whitehead sustained a knee injury on the eve of Sunderland's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic FC on 18 August with subsequent tests confirming he had damaged cruciate ligaments and required surgery. "It looks like it's a cruciate so that would rule him out for six or seven months," said manager Roy Keane. "It's a bitter blow. We're missing his leadership qualities."

'Please God, he'll be OK'
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Clarke is receiving treatment in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest last night while playing on loan at Leicester City FC. "He's one of our players and fingers crossed, please God, he'll be OK. We wish him well," added Keane. Better news for Sunderland is that Republic of Ireland left-back Ian Harte, 29, has joined on a free transfer from Levante UD.