DAVID MOYES has confirmed that Sunderland’s highly-rated goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will not play until deep into the New Year.

Pickford has been assessed this week at the club’s Academy of Light training complex after suffering a knee injury during the defeat to Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Italian Vito Mannone will now line up against Burnley on New Year’s Eve and is set to stay between the posts for the next couple of months because of the Pickford blow.

Pickford has impressed everyone with his performances this season and has attracted interest from Champions League clubs, including Arsenal.

Moyes said: “He damaged it in the Man United game in a collision and he’s stretched his cruciate ligament but it has not snapped so it doesn’t need an operation, just time.

“We think it is between six and eight weeks at the moment but it is a massive blow for us and a massive blow for the boy as well. He has been outstanding, he really has been.

“At the start of the season, it was probably touch and go who was going to get the nod to start in goal, and Vito just got it because of his experience.”

An injury to Mannone, however, opened the door for Pickford to take his chance and Moyes does not think there has been a better youngster to come through in the Premier League this season.

The Sunderland boss said: “Of all the young British talent that has really come through in the last year or so, the Harry Kane’s and the Dele Alli’s, if you’d asked me who is the best young English player to emerge this year, I’d be hard pushed to pick anyone better than Jordan Pickford.

“For me, he would be a contender for Young Player of the Year because his performances have been so good. It is not wrong to say that he has saved us points and goalkeepers that do that are vital and he’s done that for us this year, so he will be a big miss.

“I think people thought he had potential - he has proven that in the Championship - but until you get that opportunity at the highest level, you can never really tell.”

Sunderland could have Javier Manquillo, Steven Pienaar and Jack Rodwell available for the trip to Burnley after injury.