David Moyes: 'Lamine Kone has back injury'

Sunderland boss David Moyes has revealed that key centre-back Lamine Kone will miss this weekend's Premier League clash against Middlesbrough with a back problem.

Kone has been strongly linked with a big-money move to Everton in recent weeks, but was in the team for Sunderland's Premier League opener against Manchester City last Saturday, which the Black Cats lost 2-1.

It had been thought that the Ivorian would continue at the heart of the Sunderland defence for their second game of the season, but Moyes has ruled out the 27-year-old with a back injury.

Kone, who has six international caps to his name, joined Sunderland from Lorient in January 2016 and made 15 appearances in the second half of the 2015-16 Premier League season.