Emanuele Giaccherini unlikely to play again this season following ankle surgery

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has suggested that Emanuele Giaccherini is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing ankle surgery.

The 29-year-old is expected to spend a minimum of 12 weeks on the treatment table after having the operation.

Giaccherini suffered a recurrence of the injury during the Black Cats' 3-1 victory over Fulham in their FA Cup replay earlier this month.

"Towards the end of last season when we did the miracle and stayed up he was a very, very important player - he was coming from the bench and changing games," Poyet said in this afternoon's press conference.

"It's tough but I think it's the risk of forward players. We need to be sure he is 100% and we wish him well and hope he will make a full recovery."

Giaccherini previously spent two months on the sidelines with the same ankle problem.