Stoke City striker Mame Biram Diouf has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury while winger Victor Moses will be assessed over the next couple of days ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sunderland.
Diouf suffered the injury 23 minutes into Monday night’s 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Britannia.
Manager Mark Hughes confirmed in his pre-game media briefing on Thursday that the 26-year-old’s injury will rule him out of Senegal’s forthcoming matches at home and away to Tunisia in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.
“Mame Diouf is not available this weekend. It isn’t as bad as we thought but there is a little bit of damage in the hamstring,” said the Welsh boss.
He added: “It’s not as serious as we thought it might have been but he isn’t going to be available to us, and he will also miss the international fixtures too.
“We are happy with the scans we have seen though. When he initially pulled up sharply during the game we feared that he could be out for a prolonged period of time.
“We took him off almost immediately, which was the right thing to do, and thankfully the scans have shown that it is an injury – but one that we don’t anticipate keeping him out for too long.
Diouf scored the opener in Senegal’s opening qualifying win over Egypt last month. The ‘Teranga Lions’ top Group G with 6 points, same as their next opponent, Tunisia, but leads on goal difference.
He has scored twice in five starts in the ‘Potters’s’ impressive start to the season. His absence could pave the way for Marko Arnautovic having impressed from the bench against Alan Pardew’s side earlier this week.
Moses earned several plaudits for his performance in the 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday after providing the assist for Peter Crouch’s goal.
The Nigeria international even had a call for penalty turned down after been hacked down in the area by Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran.
“Victor Moses has a little bit of tightness in his thigh which we need to keep an eye on too. We are hoping that it won’t compromise him,” Hughes said.
