HOWARD Wilkinson was last night facing a goalkeeping crisis after Thomas Myhre suffered a thigh injury.

With Thomas Sorensen ruled out until the New Year after dislocating his elbow last week, Wilkinson could be forced to call on Jurgen Macho for his first game as Sunderland manager, against West Ham United on Saturday.

Myhre pulled a thigh muscle in the first-half of Norway's 1-0 win over Romania but played through the pain, making several fine saves. He was unable to kick the ball after he was hurt, however, and he was heading back to England last night after pulling out of Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

While Myhre and the team doctor refused to discuss the likely length of the former Everton keeper's absence, sources in Norway said he was expected to be out for "weeks rather than days".

It is the worst possible news for Wilkinson, who begins his first full week in charge of Sunderland today with Macho the only fit senior keeper on the club's books.

Michael Ingham is on loan to Stockport County until Saturday, so Austrian Macho - who conceded eight goals in his four Premiership appearances last season - is likely to be in the starting line-up as Wilkinson makes his debut in the Black Cats dugout.

It will represent a chance for Macho, 25, to resurrect his Sunderland career after he was one of eight players whom former manager Peter Reid decided was surplus to requirements.

Myhre's injury could not have come at a more unfortunate time for the Norweigan after he admitted the start of his career on Wearside had been a "nightmare".

Myhre, a free signing from Besiktas this summer, struggled to overcome a groin problem when he first arrived at Sunderland.

After keeping a clean sheet against Cambridge in the Worthington Cup a fortnight ago, he impressed at Arsenal after replacing Sorensen last week.

But Myhre now faces another spell of rehabilitation, and said: "It was painful when it happened and it doesn't feel good right now, though it's better than it was straight after the game.

"I can't say how long it will take for me to recover from this."

Wilkinson's assistant Steve Cotterill has vowed to help Kevin Phillips rediscover his shooting boots. Phillips, currently recovering from a hernia operation, has yet to hit the target this season.

But Cotterill said: "I think we can bring the best out of Kevin. He's a player I rate very highly indeed. He is a natural goalscorer and the last thing we will need to teach him is how to put the ball in the net."

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