Bardsley sidelined by ankle injury
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley will miss the start of the Premier League season after undergoing an ankle operation.
Bardsley suffered the injury in a preseason friendly, meaning that manager Martin O'Neill will be without one of his regular defenders at the beginning of the new campaign.
The 27-year-old moved to Sunderland from Manchester United in 2008 and has made 130 appearances for the Black Cats.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In addition to Bardsley, Sunderland will also be without injured trio Stephane Sessegnon, Wes Brown and David Vaughan for the club's opening match against Arsenal on Saturday.