This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World's Sunderland fan pundit Charlie Hodgson has suggested that the injury to striker Charlie Wyke could be a big blow for the Black Cats. 

Wyke had to be substituted in the first half of Sunderland's 1-0 loss to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday after twisting his left ankle.

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The 26-year-old consequently had a scan on his ankle and the club announced yesterday that he has suffered ligament damage, which means he now faces a four-week spell on the sidelines.

Wyke had emerged as the first-choice forward in recent weeks, starting the last three League One games, but has managed just two goals from his 12 appearances this season.

The Black Cats have lacked a prolific goalscorer since the exit of Josh Maja in January but new boss Phil Parkinson may feel he has some useful options in Will Grigg and Marc McNulty.

Grigg has a great record in League One, with 100 goals in the division, while McNulty tore up League Two on loan at Coventry City in the 2017/18 campaign–scoring 28 goals and providing 11 assists in 52 appearances for the Sky Blues.

However, Hodgson has suggested that Wyke will be missed as he fits the style of football that the new Sunderland manager likes to play.

He explained: "If you’d asked me this a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have been particularly bothered, however, I think Wyke would’ve been a key player under Parkinson. He wanted him at Bolton before he came here and I have a feeling he was his transfer target a Bradford as well.

"I think it will be a big blow for us if we are going to play with a target man, which is what has been suggested, as we don’t have another striker like him."

Sunderland's first test without Wyke will come tonight against Tranmere Rovers.