Steven Fletcher
Sunderland waiting anxiously for news on Steven Fletcher's fitness
Steven Fletcher limped out of Scotland's Euro 2016 win over the Republic of Ireland - causing Sunderland a fresh injury worry
James Hunter
Scotland's Steven Fletcher (L) is fouled by Republic of Ireland's Aiden McGeady (Image: Action Images / Lee Smith)
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Sunderland face an anxious wait to discover the extent of the injury Steven Fletcher suffered in Scotland's Euro 2016 qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland.
Fletcher limped off with an ankle injury 10 minutes into the second half, clearly still suffering the after-effects of a couple of strong challenges in the first-half.
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has confirmed the injury means that Fletcher will not feature in Tuesday's friendly against England.
Strachan said: "We wouldn't be able to risk him.
"We wouldn't want to risk it for Sunderland. We'll knock it on the head if he's walking out of here with protective boots on.
"There's no way we're going to try and play him against England."
And Sunderland boss Gus Poyet will be keeping his fingers crossed that the injury to his four-goal top scorer is not serious.
Fletcher is the club's only proven Premier League goalscorer, and any prolonged absence could have a major impact on Sunderland's season.
Fletcher suffered ankle ligament damage while on international duty in March last year, which sidelined him for five months, but this latest problem is unlikely to be as serious as that injury.
Fletcher was immediately stretchered off in that game against Wales, while he was able to continue for almost 40 minutes following the late tackle from Everton's Aiden McGeady that seemed to be the cause of the injury in Friday's game against Ireland.
But if Fletcher is not fit to line-up for Sunderland at Leicester on Saturday, Connor Wickham will almost certainly be preferred to USA international Jozy Altidore - who scored from the penalty spot in his country's 2-1 defeat against Colombia on Friday night at Fulham's Craven Cottage - to lead the line at the King Power Stadium.
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