Young Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

Watmore, 22, was stretchered off after a collision with Christian Fuchs during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Leicester City.

He subsequently visited a specialist in London and scans revealed he is facing a long period on the sidelines.

“Sunderland boss David Moyes has confirmed that Duncan Watmore is likely to miss the rest of the Black Cats’ season following the results of his scan on Monday,” the club said in a statement.

“Results from the scans revealed Watmore has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.”

Watmore, who has made 17 appearances this season, joins fellow long-term injury victims Paddy McNair, Lynden Gooch and Lee Cattermole in the Sunderland treatment room.

Sunderland failed to win in their first 10 league games, but have won three of the last four to move to the brink of safety.