ARGENTINIAN star Julio Arca's season at Sunderland could be finished by a stubborn groin injury.

The 21-year-old crowd favourite, who has not played in the Premiership for two months, has been sent home for a break with his family after flying to Switzerland to seek the advice of the Argentinian team doctor.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid admits his concern for the young winger, whose last full game was the 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa on New Year's Day.

He said: "Julio has gone back to Argentina and is not due back for another ten days.

"When he returns we will take another look at him and see how he is.

"He might have a chance of being involved in the first team again before the end of the season, but we are not too sure."

Reid added: "Julio has done fantastically well in the two years he has been here but now he just has this problem.

"We sent him out to Switzerland to let the Argentinian doctor have a look at the injury and it was the same diagnosis. He just wanted him to rest so we've sent him home and he will be back next week and hopefully will go straight into training."

Reid, however, will take no chances with the Argentinian Under-21 captain - and he also hopes to blood his international teammate Nicolas Medina once the club's Premiership safety is won.

Medina, who also helped host nation Argentina win the FIFA World Under-20 Championship last summer, has not made a first team breakthrough since his £3.5m transfer last summer.

Reid said: "If the opportunity arises I would like to give Nicolas his chance.

"Physically he is getting stronger and as a player he has got no problems. He can handle the ball. He is a good footballer

"The way Julio settled in so quickly I think people expected the same from Nicolas and I have got to say he's one for the future.

Hopefully we will see the best of him because he is a really good player. I expect him to be knocking on the first team door at the start of next season."

Reid added: "I want both of them to have a really good rest this summer.

"I think the World Under-20 Championship took it out of them last year. It was in Argentina, they were favourites and both of the lads were playing.

"I think it was a difficult time for them and they haven't had any rest. It's difficult trying to rest experienced players involved in international matches but with young players it is even more difficult. They need a complete break."

Reid admitted: "Julio gives us an option in the side that we've missed over the last few months but I believe he's probably played too much football over the last couple of years.

"That's why we've sent him home for a couple of weeks and I think the rest will do him good.

"He's in good spirits and it's just a matter of seeing how he shapes up when he comes back."

Meanwhile, 11-goal leading scorer Kevin Phillips is battling to throw off a groin strain in time to play against Championship-contenders Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The injury - a throwback to the end of last season - has been troubling the England international for a while and he was forced to stay off at half-time in the 2-0 defeat at Leeds - Phillips' eighth game without a goal.

Phillips said: "I have probably been playing with the injury for the last three weeks. It is a strain in my stomach and I just feel it's beginning to move down into my groin.

"I feel like I'm carrying my leg and I didn't feel sharp at all against Leeds. There was no point in staying on because I wasn't doing myself justice.

"I've given my all during the season and it's finally caught up with me."

* Patrick Mboma has promised Sunderland boss Peter Reid he will hit the goals trail next season, providing he is handed the four-year contract he craves.

Mboma is ready to finish his career on Wearside after taking to life in the Premier League following his arrival on loan from Parma.

Sunderland have the option of signing the 31-year-old on a permanent basis from the Italian side once the current agreement expires at the end of the season.

Although there have been reports claiming a deal has already been struck, that is far from the case according to Mboma, who will lead out Cameroon in the World Cup this summer.

But after a career which has included spells at Paris St Germain, Metz, J-League side Gamba Osaka, Cagliari and Parma, Mboma sees Sunderland as his final port of call.

Mboma knows he has a lot more to offer than has so far been witnessed.

After scoring on his first start in a 2-1 defeat at Spurs, he has suffered a few niggly injuries, and concedes: ''They have not helped.

''But I am enjoying my time with Sunderland very much and I know I want to stay here.

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