Vaughan suffers injury setback

David Vaughan could miss the big Premier League kick-off after suffering a setback in training as he recovers from a hernia operation.

The midfielder underwent what was expected to be a routine hernia op earlier this summer and was back in training for the Black Cats on their trip to South Korea. However, the Wales international has suffered a setback and boss Martin O'Neill has admitted the 29-year-old is now in a race to be fit for Sunderland's opening Premier League clash at Arsenal on August 18. O'Neill said: "David had a hernia operation and didn't feel too bad. He had a few injections to sort everything out, did a bit of training on the day after our first game in Korea and felt great, but then the following day he didn't feel so good. "The medical staff are investigating and they think that they should be able to sort it out." He added in the Gazette: "But it's a setback because he could be out for a few weeks again and pre-season is really important."