Sunderland's League One promotion push has been dealt a potential blow with the news that striker Will Grigg has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers with Estonia and Belarus due to injury.

According to BBC Sport, Grigg, who joined Sunderland from Wigan for a fee reported to be in the region of £4million in the final hours of the January transfer window, has returned home and will not feature in the matches scheduled to be played on Thursday and Sunday.

Grigg has 13 caps and two goals to his name for his national side.

The striker has impressed since his move to Sunderland, and hit the winning goal - his third in ten Black Cats appearances - as Sunderland came from behind to beat Walsall 2-1 at The Stadium of Light to keep pace with Luton and Barnsley in the race for the automatic promotion spots in League One.

The Verdict

This will be a worry for Sunderland, as well as his own goal threat, Grigg has become something of a provider for his teammates at the Stadium of Light, registering three assists to go alongside his goals.

The Black Cats will at least be pleased he has arrived back early, and will be pleased that Saturday's match with Fleetwood has already been postponed due to international call ups.

And, with the game the week after being the Checkatrade Trophy final against Portsmouth, time is at least on their side in getting Grigg fit.

Thoughts? Let us know!