Alex Pritchard injury 'does not look good' admits Alex Neil, following Sunderland's draw at Charlton

Alex Neil will undergo a scan on the ankle injury that forced him off at Charlton Athletic - but boss Alex Neil admits it does not look good for the midfielder.

Pritchard appeared to twist his ankle in a heavy challenge 15 minutes from the end of the goalless draw, and he needed treatment on the pitch before he hobbled off with the help of the physios, with Elliot Embleton coming on to replace him.

Pritchard has been a key player for Sunderland this season and he is someone that Neil knows well, having signed him for Norwich in 2016.

"The biggest concern I have got is Alex Pritchard, who has been fundamental for me since I came here," said Neil.

"His injury doesn't look good at the moment.

"Alex looked as though he rolled his ankle.

"We'll have to have a scan on it but I've known Alex for a long time, I've worked with him before, and I asked him how he was and from what he said it doesn't sound good."

While Pritchard went off during the game, two more players missed out entirely due to injury problems with Jermain Defoe and Leon Dajaku both absent, although Neil did not seem to be overly concerned about the severity of their conditions.

He said: "Jermain missed out with an injury issue. It's only a slight issue, but unfortunately he wasn't OK to be involved today.

"As for Leon, it was another injury, just a niggle."

Neil was left frustrated after Sunderland dominated at Charlton but could not find a winning goal, insisting that they did not get what they deserved.

He said: "I think we deserved to win - everybody could see that.

"For the first 35-40 minutes of the first half we were completely dominant and had probably four or five really good opportunities to score, but didn't quite take them.

"At the start of the