SUNDERLAND have suffered a major injury blow after Adam Johnson was ruled out for at least two months with a shoulder injury.

Johnson suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder during the Black Cats' 4-2 defeat at Leicester, and will have a series of scans this evening to ascertain the full extent of the problem.

That will confirm the exact time frame for his recovery, but an initial series of tests have already enabled Sunderland’s medical staff to confirm he will be unavailable for at least eight weeks.

That rules Johnson out of at least seven Premier League matches, and potentially threatens his availability for the opening derby game against Newcastle United on October 25.

“We have Jordi Gomez and Adam Johnson injured, and Danny Graham also has some minor problems,” confirmed head coach Dick Advocaat. “Adam will go to the hospital for a scan tonight, and then we will know exactly what is wrong. It is a serious injury and it will be at least eight weeks.”

Johnson’s unavailability is a significant headache as the England international was one of the few players to emerge from last weekend’s King Power Stadium setback with any credit.

He supplied the pass that resulted in Jermain Defoe’s goal on the hour mark, and had been a key creative presence throughout the pre-season period.

In his absence, it remains to be seen whether Advocaat perseveres with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, or switches to a 4-4-2 system that would see Steven Fletcher partner Defoe in attack.