ADAM MATTHEWS will be sidelined for a month and a half after damaging his ankle in Sunderland's Capital One Cup win over Exeter City.

Matthews sustained the injury in the second half of Tuesday's game and will not be available for tomorrow's trip to Aston Villa.

The former Celtic defender's absence means Billy Jones will return to the right-back berth at Villa Park, with Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens available for Sunderland's final game before the international break.

Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat said: "Matthews is injured. He will be out for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury.

"(Adam) Johnson is still out. Everyone else is fit, although (Jordi) Gomez, not quite. He is getting better and better. He played last Wednesday and is improving every day. That is good. Lens is fit, yeah, and Fletcher."

Ola Toivonen will not be considered for a starting spot after completing a season-long loan from French side Rennes earlier today, but Advocaat is delighted to have the Sweden international on board after previously working with him at PSV Eindhoven.

He said: "He is an attacking player who can score goals. He is a little bit nasty, a good header, good in the air, good touch. He was involved 45 times for the Swedish national team, so that says enough.

"I liked him already from when he played for PSV. He is not always friendly on the pitch, but that is also what we need a little bit. He really liked to come here, and I think that was really positive.

“He is a player who can score five to ten goals a season in that (attacking midfield) position. We need that in the team, and that's the way he is. That is the way I build it.  He is not a central striker - definitely not."