Emanuele Giaccherini will not play for Sunderland again this season after undergoing ankle surgery on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Italy midfielder’s absence represents a significant blow to Gus Poyet as the manager strives to keep his struggling side in the Premier League. An £8.7m signing from Juventus in the summer of 2013, Giaccherini had only just returned from a lengthy period on the sidelines nursing another ankle complaint when he sustained the latest problem in an FA Cup replay at Fulham this month.
“Giacchi was like a new player in pre-season – he came back really strong and started the new season very well,” said Poyet. “Then he got an injury which took him a while to come back from and when he was coming back, he got another kick in the same place which made the medical staff take the decision to have the operation.
“Towards the end [of last season] when we did the miracle [staying up against all odds] he was a very, very important player – he was coming from the bench and changing games.
“Losing him now is a big blow. But if he comes back in the summer the way he came back last summer he is going to play regularly. He can be impressive in the Premier League. Last season was tough for him and it took him time to adapt but he has adapted and moved on to another level. He is stronger, more clear-minded and we will see that when he’s fit.
“We originally thought he would have been fit to play at Manchester United on Saturday – it’s those games where we need players like him, working between the lines. But it wasn’t to be.”