Marc McNulty will sit out Sunderland's next two games - but is expected to be fit when the Black Cats visit Peterborough United next weekend.
The on-loan Reading striker picked up a slight hamstring injury in last weekend's win over Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light, and he missed Sunderland's midweek victory at Rochdale.
Jack Ross says the Scotland international will not figure in Saturday's game against AFC Wimbledon on Wearside, nor in Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie at Burnley, but is hoping he will be ready for the trip to London Road.
" Marc will miss this weekend," said Ross. "The original prognosis was that it would take a couple of weeks, and we had always pencilled in Peterborough as the game for which we wanted him back.
"We are hoping that will still be the case, even if he is fit earlier next week, because it is understandable that Peterborough supersedes Burnley in terms of importance for us.
"Hopefully he will be back by next weekend."
Duncan Watmore and Ethan Robson have both been out of action in recent weeks due to thigh problems but they have been back in training this week.
Watmore's recovery is at a more advanced stage than that of Robson and he could rejoin full training next week, and may be available at Peterborough.
Ross said: "Duncan and Ethan will still be absent this weekend but they are both back on the grass, Duncan is ahead of Ethan.
"I'm hopeful that Duncan will join back in with full training next week which would hopefully make him available at the earliest in time for Peterborough."
