Sunderland manager Dick Adovcaat isn’t optimistic about Ricardo Alvarez’s injury.
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat says the injury to playmaker Ricardo Alvarez is ‘not positive’, as reported by the Daily Express.
The Black Cats gave their survival hopes a real boost on Sunday, defeating North East rivals Newcastle United 1-0 thanks to a stunning goal from Jermain Defoe.
However, it seems that playmaker Alvarez won’t be available for selection during the run-in at all, having been ruled out with a knee injury.
The Argentine international, 26, featured at last summer’s World Cup before penning a season-long loan deal with Sunderland, departing Inter Milan having fallen out of favour.
Snapped up by then-manager Gus Poyet, Alvarez arrived with big expectations, but has scored just once in 17 appearances for the club.
It seems that Alvarez will be heading back to Inter at the end of this loan deal, and his chances of securing a permanent move have diminished yet again with his injury.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Advocaat noted that Alvarez is not only out injured, but is unlikely to play for the club this season – and that may mean that he has already played his final game for the club.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but it’s not positive. I don’t think we’ll see him again this season,” said Advocaat, with the Dutchman clearly not optimistic about his chances of playing.
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