Tony Mowbray has admitted he doesn’t know whether Ross Stewart will sign a new contract at Sunderland.
The Black Cats boss has said he would ‘understand’ if the striker didn’t put pen to paper on a new deal, according to The Northern Echo.
Stewart has been sensational for Sunderland over the past couple of seasons, netting 26 goals as they won promotion to the Championship before scoring 10 goals in only 13 games before picking up his season-ending injury in January.
While the Scot has been sidelined for the past six months, the club are still thought to be working away at securing him on a long-term contract, with his current deal set to expire next summer.
Stewart had previously been linked with the likes of Brentford and Rangers, though any interest had been put on hold when he was forced off against Arsenal in the FA Cup at the start of the year.
While supporters are waiting patiently at news of a new agreement, Mowbray remains unsure of his future.
“I don’t know to be honest,” Mowbray said. “”I don’t think there’s any change otherwise it would have been news and would have been out there.”
“All I know is we could do with him. He’s an exceptionally good player in this league and he’s shown that.
“Even though he hasn’t played many games in this league, his goals per game is quite incredible and I know how influential he is in our dressing room even though he’s not fit and available.
“In an ideal world Ross signs a new contract and the team looks so much stronger. If it can’t be done for whatever reason, I understand that.
“Let’s wait and see how it unfolds over the next few months.”
Ross Stewart is priceless – Sunderland would never be able to replace him
Sunderland should throw everything Ross Stewart wants at him to keep him on Wearside.
I know that is what fans previously criticised the old fans for, but realistically the striker’s wage demands aren’t going to be anything outrageous anyway.
Stewart is simply priceless to the Black Cats and nothing should even tempt them to part ways with him, even if they were to be figured big cash for his signature.
There is no replacing such a player who is easily one of the best strikers in the Championship – if not the best now that Viktor Gyokeres has left Coventry City.
Those forwards that can get the amount of goals as Stewart are the ones in the Premier League that wouldn’t dare make the step down to the second tier.
We can enjoy all the success we like in recent seasons, but letting Stewart leave would be a huge disaster.