Sunderland attacker Benji Kimpioka is facing an extended spell on the sidelines through injury, a report from The Chronicle has revealed.

Kimpioka has yet to make a senior appearance for Sunderland this season, having put pen to paper on a new contract at the Stadium of Light during the summer.

He has however, featured on a number of occasions for the club's Under 23s side, and was substituted midway through the second half of their 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Now it seems as though the full extent of the setback that forced him out of that game has been revealed, with the latest reports claiming that the Sweden youth international could be out of action for the next two months with a hamstring injury.

As a result, it has now been suggested that the striker may not play again for the Black Cats in the current calendar year.

In total, Kimpioka has made 14 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland across the course of the last two seasons, scoring on three occasions.

The Verdict

This will surely be frustrating news for all concerned.

With a heavy fixture including several cup games on the horizon, Sunderland may well have wanted Kimpioka available to help them rotate their squad and give some of their first-team regulars a break in what is a busy season.

Kimpioka as well will no doubt have been desperate for that chance in the first-team to prove he is worthy of an extended run in Phil Parkinson's side, although it now looks as though that opportunity is about to taken away from him.

That will no doubt be disappointing for the young attacker, although he should be confident that his ability means a chance will come along for him again once he returns to fitness.