Sunderland captain John O'Shea limped off with a suspected hamstring injury during the first half of the Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light.

Sam Allardyce's hopes of picking up his first win in charge of the Black Cats and his side recording a sixth win in a row over Newcastle were hit in the 36th minute as O'Shea was forced off after passing back to goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

O’Shea is already suspended for the first leg of Ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 13th, however there will now be doubts over his involvement in the return leg in Dublin three days later.

Despite O'Shea's injury and being outplayed for the majority of the first half Sunderland headed into the break 1-0 up thanks to an Adam Johnson penalty after Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini was sent off for his challenge on Steven Fletcher.