Grigg injured

He must really want to play at Wembley

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grigg-returned-back-sunderland-ankle-16003934



Why Will Grigg has returned to Sunderland with an ankle injury

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill reveals Grigg injury

It was "unrealistic" to expect Sunderland striker Will Grigg to take part in Northern Ireland's international fixtures over the coming days - according to Michael O'Neill.

The Black Cats frontman, a big-money signing from Wigan in the January transfer window, has returned to Wearside from international duty after a flare up of an ankle injury.

It's an injury scare for Sunderland ahead of their vital League One promotion push, and the Checkatrade Trophy Final, with Duncan Watmore already ruled out, and Chris Maguire unlikely to be fit after recovering from a broken leg.

But Northern Ireland boss O'Neill has revealed that Grigg was suffering from an ongoing ankle problem, which meant he was not able to take part in their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Estonia on Thursday night, and Belarus on Sunday.

" Will Grigg has gone back to his club," confirmed O'Neill today. "His ankle has an ongoing problem which he's had for some time.

"It was unrealistic - he certainly wasn't going to be in contention for the game tomorrow night, and it was unrealistic to expect him to be fit for Sunday as well.

"So it's disappointing as Will has something to offer, but unfortunately injury, as it did earlier in the Nations League, has deprived him of that opportunity to really stake a claim for a starting place."

Sunderland will now hope his injury has time to recover before they take on Portsmouth at Wembley on March 31, with some vital League One fixtures also on the horizon.