Tony Mowbray still thinks Ross Stewart could sign a new contract at Sunderland.
Speaking via The Northern Echo, the Black Cats boss has suggested that it would be a big surprise to see the striker not extend his stay if he was scoring goals in front of ‘46,000 supporters all singing your name’.
Stewart hasn’t kicked a football for Sunderland since he suffered an Achilles injury in their FA Cup clash with Fulham back in January.
The Scot attracted a lot of interest prior to being sidelined, having scored 10 goals and provided three assists in only 13 matches in the first half of last season.
The club triggered the option to extend Stewart’s contract by a further year, which means his current deal will now expire next summer.
The Wearside outfit have been working very hard to get Stewart to put pen to paper, however it has been looking increasingly likely that they won’t get their wish.
Despite being out of action until late September at the earliest, Southampton had been heavily linked with a summer move for the 27-year-old.
While it looks like Stewart will still be here beyond this week’s transfer deadline, Sunderland could be forced to offload him in January if he decides against signing a new contract.
However, Mowbray is still confident that he can commit his future to the club and thinks the supporters will play a huge role in his decision.
Mowbray believes Sunderland fans can encourage Ross Stewart to sign a new deal
“I’m hoping Ross Stewart gets fit and and, whether he signs a contract or doesn’t sign a contract, he scores 20 goals between whenever he is fit and the end of the season,” he said.
“I still believe, somewhere along the line, the supporters have still got a huge part to play with Ross Stewart.
“OK, he’s not signed a deal, but if he is scoring goals, enjoying his football, the crowd are singing his name, he’s their hero, why wouldn’t you sign for a club with 46,000 supporters all singing your name?
“Ross just wants to be where he is loved and cared for, and there isn’t a bigger, better, football club in this league than this one.”
Stewart is apparently on the grass now as he looks to quickly recover from seven months in the treatment room. The striker is expected to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly during September’s international break.