Nathan Broadhead: Sunderland striker may miss rest of season with 'bad' hamstring injury

Nathan Broadhead limped off at Arsenal just 15 minutes after scoring his side's goal in their 5-1 EFL Cup quarter-final defeat

Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead faces a long lay-off with the hamstring injury he suffered in the EFL Cup defeat at Arsenal and could even miss the rest of this season.

Boss Lee Johnson has said that the on-loan Everton striker, 23, will be sidelined for at least three months.

"I think it's a grade three (tear) which is bad," Johnson told BBC Newcastle after Sunderland's 3-0 win at Doncaster.

"He's getting referred to a surgeon."

Broadhead suffered the injury at the end of the first half at the Emirates, just 15 minutes after the in-form marksman had brilliantly chipped home his fifth goal in four games - taking his overall tally this season to eight.

Johnson is unsure exactly how long Broadhead will be missing but says that will be determined by whether he needs an operation.

"I don't think he will need one," Johnson added.

"If he doesn't then it'll be three months (out). If he does it could be anywhere up to five."

With the Black Cats now back in the automatic promotion places, Johnson knows Broadhead's absence means strengthening his depleted squad is even more vital.

"We need help but the problem you've got is lots of clubs are holding on to players because of the Covid situation.

"We don't just want to be living off loans all the time we wants to try to hold on to these players and develop them," he said.