Black cats full back will miss season opener.
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Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley will miss the next 10 weeks of the season after breaking his foot, Sky Sports reports.
The former Manchester United full back sustained the injury during Sunderland’s under-21 clash against Bolton Wanderers earlier this week and was forced off at half time.
Scans have since confirmed that he has broken his foot and will therefore have to face the next 10 weeks on the sidelines.
The news will come as a major blow to the player as he was expected to move on from the Stadium of Light this summer after being told by Paolo Di Canio that he wasn’t going to be featuring in his plans for the forthcoming season.
Di Canio had already banished the player to training with the reserves during the pre season campaign and now faces an uncertain future now that a move away appears highly unlikely this summer.
The likes of Fulham, Newcastle and Blackburn were all thought to be weighing up moves for the Scotland international, but it seems he will now remain on Wearside when the transfer window closes as a result of his injury.
Bardsley joined Sunderland in 2007 and has gone on to make 167 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.