SUNDERLAND have been forced to accept they are no nearer to knowing how long highly-rated striker Stephen Elliott will be missing from their Premiership relegation fight.

It has emerged the talented, young Republic of Ireland striker has suffered a stress fracture of the spine and has been told to rest the injury as much as possible over Christmas.

It is Elliott's worrying problem, coupled with the fact Andy Gray has missed all week's training with an Achilles injury, that has forced manager Mick McCarthy to recall Daryl Murphy from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

McCarthy, who only has Anthony le Tallec and Jon Stead in his squad from his list of forwards for the Boxing Day visit of Bolton, has admitted he will name Murphy on the bench against the Trotters.

But it is Elliott's problem which is causing the most concern, as the Sunderland boss knows how important the former Manchester City trainee is to the club's cause.

"Elliott's problem has been explored. There's no magic remedy, he's just got to rest his back," said McCarthy, who has already been without the 21-year-old since the defeat to Arsenal on November 5.

"As a kid he missed seven months at Man City with it so we're making sure it's not going to re-occur. There's no quick fix at all, if you're suffer from a bad back it's about getting your posture right and doing your core work, I can't put a timescale on it at all.

"We've missed him. At the end of last season we looked at all positions and we thought he'd be a threat at this level, so we've missed him."

While Elliott, Gray, Tommy Miller and Stephen Wright - who picked up a thigh injury playing for the reserves on Wednesday night - are struggling to overcome short-term injuries, the long-term casualty list looks closer to easing.

During the two week break since Sunderland's defeat at Charlton, Colin Healy, George McCartney, Matty Piper and Kevin Kyle have taken part in some training with the squad.

None are expected to face Bolton but the encouraging signs of January returns are pleasing their manager.

"Kyle's looking good, we're very pleased with him and what's more important he's pleased with himself. He's been able to train and he's pain-free from his hip," said McCarthy.

Such has been Sunderland's position at the foot of the league table for the majority of the campaign, every match they have played has been billed as vital.

But, with four matches inside eight days, this festive fixture list against four of the Premiership's unpredictable teams offers the Black Cats their greatest chance of closing the 11-point gap to safety.

And McCarthy - whose side face Blackburn, Everton and Fulham after the visit of Bolton - admits his squad have to try to imagine the season starts here.

"It's almost like a fresh start," said the Sunderland boss. "We know the other games have gone but it's almost like starting again.

"Bolton's a new beginning if you like and I'm hoping we can get back into things. It's going to be a watershed for all of us, whether we can push on and still be scrapping to the end or whether we get cut adrift. If you win you view the next game a lot differently."

McCarthy, meanwhile, will let Israeli trialist Nir Davidovich know whether he has impressed enough during his three days with the club to earn a deal.

Davidovich, from Maccabi Haifa, will sit down with the manager and his agent at some stage today.

And McCarthy said: "Davidovich has done OK. He's fine, he's a very athletic goalkeeper - not quite the same physical specimen as Mart Poom, but not many are.''

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