SUNDERLAND have suffered another serious injury blow after goalkeeper Vito Mannone damaged his elbow in training this morning.

Mannone is due to have a series of scans at hospital this afternoon, amid fears he could have suffered a fracture that could sideline him for a number of weeks.

Jordan Pickford was due to start tomorrow’s EFL Cup second-round tie with Shrewsbury Town anyway, but Mannone’s setback adds to an injury list that is growing by the week.

John O’Shea and Fabio Borini are also unavailable for tomorrow’s game, with Jan Kirchhoff, Lee Cattermole and Seb Larsson remaining on the long-term absentee list.

Moyes said: “There’s no change in terms of anybody coming back. Fabio Borini has had an injection in his toe, which kept him out on Saturday, and he’s doing some running on the grass, but won’t be available for tomorrow.

“John O’Shea has had a check, and we think it’s a hip injury rather than a groin. We don’t think it’s as serious as we first thought, but he’s obviously not available. There’s no change with any of the other injured players.

“Unfortunately, this morning, we’ve taken another injury with Vito on his elbow. We’re just about to take him to hospital to get it checked. I couldn’t tell you whether it’s serious or anything yet. It could be, and we’re a little bit worried about it, but I couldn’t tell you how good or bad it is yet.

“I would have played Jordan in the game anyway. I don’t have any qualms about playing him – he could easily have been the one who started the season anyway. We’ve got tough competition in the goalkeeping spots.”

Moyes remains desperate to add to his ranks before the transfer window closes next Wednesday evening, and is closing in on deals for Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M’Vila and Atletico Madrid full-back Javier Manquillo.

He has been heavily linked with Barnsley defender Alfie Mawson and Everton midfielder James McCarthy, and will also attempt to sign a new striker before the end of the month.

Moyes said: “We’re close to one or two, but I’ve not got them yet so there’s no point in me saying more. I was hoping I might have had at least one today, but hopefully it’ll be in the next few days.

“I do know that there’s been talks between the club regarding M’Vila, or at least between lawyers.”

Moyes was manager of an Everton team that lost to Shrewsbury in the FA Cup third round in January 2003, and while the Shrews are currently 20th in League One, the Sunderland boss has warned his players they cannot afford to take anything for granted tomorrow.

He said: “I don’t think there’s any manager that wants to go out to lose a cup tie. I’ve certainly never done it. People might think different but I would never do that.

“You don’t want to go out and lose any game. We know upsets can happen though, so we have to make sure that doesn’t happen here.

“I’ve been involved in teams that have beaten teams in an upset, but I’ve also been involved with a more senior team who have lost. I know exactly what it is like both ways. If you don’t play to your best, you get found out.”