Sunderland Face Goalkeeping Crisis Ahead Of St Mary's Match Wednesday, 24th Aug 2016 11:44 Sunderland will head South with a potential goalkeeping problem with first choice Vito Mannone awaiting the result on a scan on his arm for a possible fracture. Sunderland do not have good memories of St Mary's in the last couple of visits, just under 2 years ago they were slaughtered 8-0 and then last season just as they thought it was all over, it wasn't with Virgil Van Dijk hammering in an injury time equaliser that at the time looked likely to prove the nail in the coffin for relegation for the Black Cats. Therefore they are now sweating on whether Vito Mannone will be fit for Saturday, however it doesn't look good for the Italian keeper on the arm injury he suffered in training earlier in the week, the fact that it is being scanned suggests that he is in some pain and even if the arm is not broken, it may not be in top shape to play on Saturday. If that is the case then Sunderland could be in trouble, back up is 22 year old Jordan Pickford, who although has substantial experience at lower league level having been loaned out to various League clubs by Sunderland for over 100 appearances, the most recent being Preston last season where he made 24 appearances before being recalled by Sunderland, has only played twice in the League for the Black cats, both last season in a 4-1 defeat at Spurs and a 2-2 draw at Watford. That will not inspire confidence in Sunderland fans especially with the the defeat of two years ago fresh in the memory. It will take a mammoth effort by Saints to beat that, however the fact that it is a Premier League rookiie in goal will surely inspire them to have a few more pops at goal than they have in the first two games, where the accusation is that at times they have wanted to walk it into the net. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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