Sunderland youngster Elliot Embleton has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury.
Embleton picked up the injury while on international duty with England under-20s and it means his time on loan at Grimsby Town is effectively over.
The 19-year-old has impressed on loan at Blundell Park this season, scoring four goals and registering four assists in 30 appearances for the League Two club.
Embleton has picked up experience in a host of positions across the midfield and had been considered a contender for their Player of the Season award prior to picking up his injury.
The England youth international will return to Sunderland in the summer and will hope to make a claim to be involved with the first team.
Black Cats boss Jack Ross is a fan of Embleton and is hopeful he can play a 'large part' in Sunderland's future progression.
He told ChronicleLive: "He’s a player I want to keep at the club, and a player I think can play a big part in our future progression because I think he has enough quality to do that. And I think the games he gets this season will help him enormously in that regard."
'Grimsby's biggest attacking threat' - The lowdown on young Sunderland star Elliot Embleton
Jack Ross explains why Elliot Embleton will stay at Grimsby until the end of the season
