SUNDERLAND have been dealt a hammer blow, with Jack Clarke set to miss at least half of the Black Cats' remaining Championship fixtures after confirmation that the winger is facing up to six weeks out of action.

Clarke is not expected to return to training until April, which means he's likely to miss Sunderland's next six games at the very least.

It's a major setback for the Black Cats, whose hopes of repeating last season's top six finish are fading fast after three defeats on the bounce.

Clarke suffered ankle ligament damage in the recent defeat at Birmingham, which turned out to be Michael Beale's last game in charge.

He missed the weekend loss to Swansea but at that stage interim boss Mike Dodds was hopeful the 23-year-old would soon be ready to return. But the Black Cats have now received confirmation of the severity of Clarke's injury and Dodds must find a way to replace his star winger.

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A Sunderland statement released on Wednesday afternoon said: "Further assessments of the injury have now been completed, with the winger expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.

"The club’s leading scorer with 15 goals and four assists, Clarke will now undergo a period of rehabilitation before an anticipated return to training in April."

That means Clarke will miss the March fixtures against Norwich, Leicester, Southampton, QPR and Cardiff and is also unlikely to be ready to return for the visit of Blackburn on April 1.

Sunderland then welcome Bristol City on April 6 before travelling to Leeds, Clarke's former club, on April 9. After the trip to Elland Road, just four Championship fixtures will remain for the Black Cats.

In the absence of Clarke, Dodds changed shape to a back three for Saturday's game against Swansea but his plan backfired badly. He's likely to revert to a flat back four for Saturday's game at Carrow Road, with Romaine Mundle in contention for a second start since joining the club in January.

Patrick Roberts and Bradley Dack remain sidelined.

There was better news on the injury front for Sunderland, with Corry Evans and Aji Alese both pictured back in training this week.

Sunderland are eight points adrift of the play-off places with 12 games to play.