Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray gives an injury update on Patrick Roberts after Burnley absence

The influential winger picked up a knock in training in the build up to the 4-2 defeat to Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Mowbray said that the Sunderland staff were conscious of the 25-year-old's intense workload of late and felt that he was at risk of being sidelined for significantly longer.

The head coach hopes that a free midweek will give him the chance to return for what are four crucial games before the World Cup break.

"We don't think it's a serious problem," Mowbray said.

"We'll see how the week goes, he's had a huge workload of late. He probably hasn't played many three-game weeks, he's picked up a knock in training and was uncomfortable. The decision was that we didn't think it was worth losing potentially for eight to ten weeks. So we decided to give him a breather this week and give someone else an opportunity."