Loan striker David Healy says his season has almost certainly been ended by the medial knee ligament injury he picked up in training last week. The Northern Irishman has also revealed that he has been playing with a rib injury for most of his time with the Blues.
Writing in his column in the Belfast Telegraph, the 30-year-old said: "In recent weeks I have been playing through the pain barrier as I fractured a rib in a game against Blackpool just after Northern Ireland’s trip to Albania.
"I’ve had to take painkillers just to get through training but now this new injury has finished my season.
"All I want to do now is work on my fitness, have a good break in the summer then come back to Sunderland totally refreshed for pre-season.
"I don’t know what the future will hold for me as I haven’t sat down and talked to the manager but I want to play a lot more football next season.”
Healy admits his time at Town didn’t go to plan: "Although I didn’t score as many goals as I would have liked during my loan period, I hope I have contributed something in what has been a difficult season for everyone at Portman Road.
"The one goal I did score earned us a point at Scunthorpe which was important at the time but of course I would have wanted to play more and find the target more."
Healy has been receiving treatment for his injury at Town but expects to return to Sunderland to continue his medical attention next week.