Steven Fletcher will miss the run in

After several days of back and forth - he's out; he's still waiting on scans - the expected word has come down that Steven Fletcher will miss the majority of Sunderland's remaining Premier League schedule.

Fletcher to miss most of Sunderland's survival bid

STEVEN Fletcher will miss the vast majority of Sunderland's survival bid after a scan revealed damage to his ankle ligaments.

Fletcher faces between four and six weeks on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in the early stages of Scotland's 2-1 defeat to Wales on Friday night.

In a best case scenario, the Sunderland striker could be available for the last two or three games of the season.

However, if further tests to Fletcher's right foot reveal a need for surgery, he will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

Sunderland, dangerously close to the relegation zone and facing a tough run of games, will have to rely on new signing Danny Graham, and the likes of Stephane Sessegnon to score goals. Unfortunately for them, Graham has yet to settle in the north east, and Sess - other than a brief two-week spell when moved to the right wing - hasn't looked a shadow of himself.

It doesn't look good for the Black Cats, and as a fantasy manager you're only getting involved with them if you're going to be betting against them.