Phil Parkinson gives update on Joel Lynch as Sunderland defender suffers serious injury

Lynch collided with Jon McLaughlin deep into the second half of Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

Play carried on for a brief period but the referee stopped the game and Lynch was treated quickly by the medical staff.

The stretcher was called for almost immediately and Lynch was taken out of the ground to hospital.

Lynch had been the covering defender as Portsmouth striker Ellis Harrison chased a long ball through the middle. Lynch looked to shield the ball so that McLaughlin could head clear, and the pair collided in the aftermath.

Parkinson has confirmed that the centre-back was knocked unconscious, but did come round before leaving Fratton Park.

The Black Cats boss clearly cut a concerned figure after the game, but Sunderland will have to wait to see how the 32-year-old is progressing.

“He was knocked unconscious and has gone to hospital,” Parkinson said

“We don't really know the extent of his injury yet and we just hope he's alright.

“The centre-forward has just pushed him [into the goalkeeper], there's no need for him to do that.

“It looks like he has suffered a very bad injury and it is a worry when someone is knocked clean out.

“The medical team were on there very quickly, we can only tell you more when we get him ourselves from hospital.”

Charlie Wyke is also an injury concern after being withdrawn at the break.

Wyke collided with the goalkeeper as he chased a through ball, with Parkinson adamant that it should have been a penalty for a foul by the covering defender.

“If you look at the incident, he's running through, and the defender has just ran across him and clipped him, and made him collide with the goalkeeper,” Parkinson said.

“I don't think it was a serious shoulder injury but it was certainly serious enough for him to come off at half-time and we'll have to assess that tomorrow morning.”

Parkinson also confirmed that Grant Leadbitter had not traveled due to a virus.