Elliot Embleton is facing a spell on the sidelines after limping out of Sunderland’s Carabao Cup win at Sheffield United with a hamstring injury.
The Black Cats won 1-0 at Bramall Lane to book their place in the last 16, and earn a tie against League One rivals Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
Embleton impressed in the first half against the Blades but suffered the injury right on the stroke of half-time and did not emerge after the break.
A hamstring injury last season cut short his season in March while on loan at Grimsby Town, but Ross is hopeful that this latest problem is not as serious.
He said: “He is a bit upset because it is hamstring again - he had a problem with his hamstring at the end of last season.
“That was a bad hamstring injury but the first impressions of this is that it is not as bad.
“But it is still not a straightforward one, I think.
“I’ve been really impressed with Elliot this season. I know people will argue about the gametime he has had but he has still had a good chunk of it and he has been around the squad.
“Tonight was an opportunity for him to show how good he is and he did that in the first half and I was pleased with him.
“I’m really disappointed for him but we will look after him and when he is ready he will come back into our first team squad.”
