Sunderland's top scorer Jack Clarke has been ruled out for six weeks with an ankle ligament injury.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury in the defeat by Birmingham on 17 February and missed Saturday's home defeat by Swansea.
The former Leeds and Tottenham forward has scored 15 league goals for the Black Cats this season.
Sunderland are 10th in the Championship, eight points off the play-offs with 12 games to play.
The club said they expected him to return to training in April.