Sunderland will be without defender Jenson Seelt for a 'long period of time' after the 20-year-old confirmed he has sustained a significant knee injury in the defeat at Southampton. 

Sunderland's defensive issues have grown ahead of the visit of Queens Park Rangers this weekend with news of Seelt's injury. The Dutchman confirmed via his social media account he has suffered a knee injury during the 4-2 defeat against Southampton at St Mary's and that he will be out for a significant period of time. 

Seelt has been called upon in recent weeks owing to the suspensions of both Dan Ballard and Luke O'Nien after they picked up their tenth bookings of the season whilst the likes of Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin and Niall Huggins have been long-term injury absentees this season. But after Ballard was forced off in the defeat at Southampton with a hamstring injury, interim head coach Mike Dodds was already stretched at centre-back before news of Seelt's injury.

"I'm gutted to share the news that I suffered a knee injury during the game against Southampton," Seelt confirmed via his social media account. "This has taken me by surprise and I will be out for a long period of time.

"For now, I need to focus on my recovery and do everything in my power to come back better and stronger than ever. In all difficulties during life there are lessons and things to turn into positivity."

 

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It leaves Dodds with just one fit, recognised centre-back for this weekend's Championship fixture with Qpr at the Stadium of Light in January signing Leo Hjelde. The Norwegian has been operating at left-back since his arrival owing to the injuries to Cirkin, Huggins and Alese but will now likely be moved back into the centre of defence with Sunderland's first three options at centre-back all set to be missing as O'Nien serves the second match of his two-game ban.

News of the injury will do little to alleviate both the pressure and worry on Wearside that the club's six-game losing streak will come to an end this weekend as Dodds continues to search for his first point since taking over as interim head coach for a third time. 

Seelt has made 17 appearances for Sunderland this season, 11 as a starter, since arriving from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the summer but Sunderland now look set to be without the young defender until next season as their injury concerns grow.