An imaginary stadium's modelled and rendered.
Hull City’s play-off rivals Sunderland have been rocked by the news that star winger Jack Clarke will be sidelined for the next six weeks through injury.
The Black Cats could be without the 23-year-old until mid-April at the earliest according to the club with the former Leeds United youngster not expected back in training until the final weeks of the Championship season, with expectations in the North East that he could miss as many as eight games during his enforced absence.
Clarke’s absence will come as a hammer blow to Sunderland who have seen their play-off bid falter in recent weeks with their latest setback on the pitch coming at home to struggling Swansea City last Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland’s star man had notched 15 goals and four assists prior to picking up the ankle ligament injury in the 2-1 loss at Birmingham City on February 17, in what proved to be Michael Beale’s final game in charge before he was sacked after just 63 days in charge. Beale has yet to be replaced with caretaker boss Mike Dodds taking charge until the end of a campaign which looks increasingly likely it will end in disappointment for the Wearsiders.
City, who face Preston North End on Saturday in a battle of two play-off hopefuls at Deepdale, occupy the final play-off spot and sit eight points above Sunderland with just 12 games left to go. Sunderland face another of the play-off hopefuls in Norwich City at Carrow Road this Saturday before taking on Leicester City and Southampton in the next week.
