The 28-year-old Sunderland star had hoped to be back for Saturday's game against Blackburn but manager Roy Keane, coping with a host of injuries, today revealed that it could be at least a month before the right-winger comes into contention again.

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He told the Echo: "When you're coming back from injuries like hamstrings you can get little niggles and often it's never easy. Carlos has had a few twinges, nothing really serious, but we don't want to take any chances with him.

"He certainly won't be involved in the Blackburn game but personally I never really thought he would be. And we won't push him for the Arsenal game either.

"So the chances are he won't be involved until after the international break next month."

As well as being without Edwards for the weeks ahead, the manager does not expect to see Andy Cole out on the pitch either.

The striker, still recovering from a calf injury, certainly had no chance of being involved at the weekend.

Keane said: "Andy Cole looks as though he's in a similar position to Carlos and again will probably be looking until after the international break."

The injury situation does not get any better at the Stadium of Light.
As well as Edwards and Cole, Keane will be without long-term injured Dean Whitehead, Kieran Richardson and Stan Varga while Russell Anderson has also undergone an operation.

There is hope though that Nyron Nosworthy might be available for the weekend. Last year's player of the season has been struggling with a knee injury but has a chance of being involved against Rovers on Saturday.