ALAN BROWNE has emerged as a fresh Sunderland injury doubt ahead of this weekend’s Wear-Tees derby with Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

Browne has been complaining of discomfort in his knee, and has undergone a series of tests to ascertain the extent of the problem.

The Republic of Ireland international attended a question and answer session at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening alongside Sunderland’s other summer signings with his leg in a protective brace.

He told fans the brace was a precautionary measure at this stage, and is hoping for good news when the results of his medical tests are revealed.

However, he is clearly a doubt for Saturday’s showdown with Boro and there is a chance he could be facing an extended period on the sidelines if his knee issue is shown to be serious.

Browne joined Sunderland as a free agent in the summer following his departure from Preston, and has made two starts and two substitute appearances this season, scoring in the win over Portsmouth.

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Samis Abdul Samed was also present at the event on Tuesday night, and he will definitely not be playing any part in Saturday’s home game.

Samed, who joined the Black Cats on loan from Lens last month, has been recovering from a minor niggle.

Regis Le Bris stated last week that the midfielder was “seven to ten days” away from a possible return, and the Ghanaian told fans during the talk-in that he was likely to be sidelined for ‘another fortnight’. That would rule him out of the Boro game and the trip to Watford, although could mean he is available to make his debut in the midweek home match against Derby.

Sunderland’s medical staff have spent the first part of the week assessing the injury that forced Dan Ballard to hobble from the field in the closing stages of Saturday’s defeat at Plymouth.

Ballard left Home Park on crutches, with his foot in a protective boot, and is understood to have had a series of scans following his return to the North-East.

The result of those scans should be revealed when Le Bris conducts his pre-match press conference ahead of the Boro game on Thursday afternoon.

If Ballard is unavailable for the weekend, Chris Mepham is likely to step in to make his Sunderland debut, having joined the Black Cats on deadline day in a loan move from Bournemouth.