Ross Stewart's injury could prompt a fresh push from Sunderland to bring Ellis Simms back to Wearside - with Tony Mowbray saying the Everton striker's return on loan would be 'huge' for the Black Cats. Sunderland suffered a devastating injury blow in yesterday's 1-1 draw at Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round when Stewart departed on a stretcher with a serious Achilles injury, which Mowbray said could be a tear that would rule his top scorer out for 'a long, long, time'.
Simms spent the first half of the season on loan at Sunderland, scoring seven goals in 17 Championship outings, before he was recalled by Premier League strugglers Everton at the beginning of January, which left Stewart as the Black Cats' only out-and-out striker. And they had only just managed to sign a second frontman as competition and cover for Stewart, landing Leeds United's Joe Gelhardt on loan on Friday, when injury struck.
They now need to go back into the transfer market to bring in another striker, and Simms remains a possibility if Everton - who are expected to confirm Sean Dyche as their new manager following the sacking of Frank Lampard last week - decide to let him out on loan again. "I don't do that side of it," said Mowbray, when asked whether Stewart's injury might lead to Simms' return.
