Sunderland have been warned that they should be concerned following the January transfer window.
It has been over a year since Sunderland last played a proven goalscorer in the Championship, with even Joe Gelhardt having only netted three senior goals prior to his move to Wearside.
The Black Cats failed to bring in an experienced forward in the summer and instead added Nazariy Rusyn, Luis Hemir Semedo, Eliezer Mayenda and Mason Burstow to their ranks.
It was then expected that they would try again in January, but ended up focusing all their efforts on Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore, who eventually joined Ipswich Town.
However, their striker efforts have looked much more positive this year, with Rusyn and Burstow bagging three goals between them in the Championship.
Even so, Carlton Palmer still believes it is ‘concerning’ that the club failed to add a new striker last month.
Speaking to Football League World, the pundit said: “I think it was disappointing for Sunderland that they didn’t manage to get a striker in, but more importantly was the fact that they were able to keep Jack Clarke.
“I mean, they have scored 41 goals which, if you’re looking at West Bromwich Albion sat in fifth place, they’ve scored only 41.
“But if you’re looking at the teams above that, Ipswich Town 53, Leeds United 52, Southampton 55, Leicester City 64 – they’re a long way off from that.
“So, yes, it’ll be a disappointment for Sunderland that they didn’t manage to get a striker in the window, but they have a lot of young players they’ve brought in that can play in those striker positions.
“And, of course, they managed to keep Jack Clarke, which is tremendous and he’s having a fantastic season.
“They’re going to have to share those goals around but, like they’ve said, rather than rushing and not getting the players that they want, they’d rather be patient.
“But it is concerning.”
Can Sunderland cope without another striker?
Sunderland fans were frustrated when it got to deadline day and we hadn’t signed a new striker, but it doesn’t quite feel as disastrous now.
While he hasn’t exactly hit the ground running, Nazariy Rusyn has given us a lot more hope with his goals against Preston North End and Middlesbrough.
His brilliant effort at the Riverside Stadium shows his ability and confidence and will undoubtedly now earn him a regular place in the starting line-up.
Hopefully we can stop chopping and changing now, and allow the Ukrainian to develop and settle in, and hopefully score some goals.