Sunderland have been dealt an injury worry with the news that leading scorer Darren Bent could be out of action for three weeks with a hamstring problem.

The striker underwent a scan on Monday after picking up a knock during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal and if he has damaged his hamstring he will be set for at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed that the medical team ‘won’t know anything more until the results come back’, so everyone at the club is keeping their ‘fingers crossed’ for now.

Regardless of what the scan reveals though, it is likely that Bent will be a doubt for this weekend’s trip to Wigan. The 25-year-old is obviously not training at the moment and it might be a risk to play him on Saturday even if he returns by the end of the week.

Considering the form Bent is in, this would be a huge blow for Sunderland. Since moving from Tottenham in the summer, he has been a revelation for the Black Cats scoring 9 goals in the Premier League so far.

This has included the winning goals against Liverpool and Arsenal,both of which enhanced his chances of securing a place in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad next summer.

He didn’t exactly make the most of his chance to impress against Brazil in the most recent England game, but showed again what he is capable off by scoring the only goal against Arsenal in his next appearance.

Bent’s injury means that Bruce has a selection headache ahead of the Wigan game as Kenwyne Jones is suspended and will also be missing.

Hopefully though for Bent, Sunderland and England, the former Ipswich Town man will receive positive news from his scan and be back on the pitch scoring goals before long.

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