Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has admitted that he is fearing the worst over Emanuele Giaccherini's ankle injury.
Having previously spent two months out injured with the same problem, the Italy international suffered a recurrence of the injury in an FA Cup win at Fulham earlier this month.
Giaccherini missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion and, although Poyet admits to being in the dark over how severe it is, the Uruguayan is pessimistic over the prognosis.
"It doesn't look good," he is quoted as saying by the Shields Gazette.
"We are reassessing, but we will get a full update next week. It is the same injury he had before. I don't want to go further but it's not good. I hope the specialist opinion in the week is positive."
Giaccherini, 29, has made just seven Premier League appearances this season.
