Sunderland manager Jack Ross has offered an update on the fitness of midfielder Elliot Embleton after the 20-yera-old limped out of the action in midweek.

Embleton started in the club's 1-0 win against Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night but was forced off after 45 minutes with a hamstring.

However, Ross has played down the seriousness of the knock.

"He is a bit upset because it is hamstring again," the Sunderland Chronicle reported from his post-match press conference.

"That was a bad hamstring injury but the first impressions of this is that it is not as bad.

"But it is still not a straightforward one, I think."

It was the youngster's sixth appearance of the season in all competitions, comfortably surpassing last year's tally of just one run-out for the Black Cats.

Max Power scored the only goal of the match as Ross' side saw-off Premier League opposition for the second round in a row, this time in the form of Sheffield United.

When the goal came, it was a screamer as well. With a clever corner eventually falling to the midfielder, he took just one touch before arrowing his effort into the top corner.

The Black Cats weathered the late pressure from their top-flight hosts well to pick-up a confidence boosting win, following a couple of poor performances in their League One season.

The verdict

This is certainly a set-back both for the player and the team as a whole.

Embleton is clearly somebody with plenty of promise so the last thing that he will need is another set-back and spell on the sidelines.

For Ross too, his midfield has hardly been a haven of consistency, so to lose another option in that area will only make his job more difficult as well.