When it rains, it pours for David Moyes and his Sunderland side as a tough week only gets tougher due to the injury of Fabio Borini.
The striker has suffered a groin injury and is likely to be out for around three months.
The injury
The 25-year-old was replaced halfway through Sunderland's 1-1 draw with Southampton last weekend, as he had tore a ligament in his groin. Borini has played in two of Moyes' three league games so far but this setback is likely to keep the attacker out until the New Year.
Borini suffered the injury after taking a free-kick against the Saints and he now joins Vito Mannone and Sebastian Larsson on the treatment table.
Lack of options
The injury now only leaves Moyes with one recognised senior striker, in the form of Jermain Defoe. 17-year-old Joel Asoro is now the only other out and out forward in the squad.
Borini also would play down the flanks under Sam Allardyce, meaning the decision to sell Jeremain Lens is now looking like a poor one. Duncan Watmore and Wahbi Khazri can play down the wings but there is now a lack of depth in Sunderland's squad.
Deadline Day woes
Although Sunderland brought in two new additions on Deadline Day, fans were always going to be anxious that no attackers had been signed to offer support to Defoe. Norwich's Steven Naismith was heavily linked with a move to Wearside but it never came to fruition.
The Black Cats also failed to land long-term target Yann M'Vila and Boavista goalkeeper Mika Domingues, although the club are reportedly set to appeal to UEFA in order to push through the transfer of the latter.
Sunderland are also looking to try and bring in some free agents in the coming weeks. Steven Pienaar was signed on a free at the start of the window and it looks like Moyes may also try and reunite with his former striker Victor Anichebe.