JUST IN: New Sunderland boos Mike Dodds provides an injury update and states that two important players will miss the match against Swansea. However...

Mike Dodds gives Jack Clarke injury update and confirms latest Sunderland team news

Mike Dodds has issued a Sunderland injury update

Mike Dodds has confirmed that Jack Clarke will miss Swansea City’s visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon but remains hopeful that the winger could play a part in the fixtures that follow.

Mike Dodds promises ‘interesting’ Sunderland team selection to cover Jack Clarke absence

Sunderland appear to have a plan for coping without Jack Clarke, and Mike Dodds says he us ‘excited’ about the challenge it presents.

Sunderland caretaker Mike Dodds 'relaxed' for first game in charge since Tony Mowbray's sacking | ITV News Tyne Tees

Mike Dodds says Sunderland will make ‘tweaks’ tactically to cover for the Jack Clarke injury as he promised an ‘interesting team selection’ for the Swansea game.

Clarke, Sunderland’s top scorer this season with 15 goals but he will be missing against the Swans due to an ankle problem.

That is obviously a blow for Sunderland, but Mike Dodds says it does not necessarily need to be something everyone feels doom and gloom about.

In fact, Dodds is ‘excited’ about the tactical options it opens up to him.

Sunderland caretaker Mike Dodds 'relaxed' for first game in charge since Tony Mowbray's sacking | ITV News Tyne Tees

“Jack Clarke is one of the best wingers in the league,” he said. “If you take Jack Clarke out of any of the teams in the league and he’s a miss.

“On the flipside I’m also a little bit excited around tweaking and changing one or two things. I’m excited around what things can we move around within the group?