Tony Mowbray hopes Ross Stewart will be fit to join in Sunderland's pre-season preparations after being ruled out for the remainder of the current campaign. The Scotland international striker is due to undergo surgery next week after suffering a serious Achilles injury in last weekend's FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham.
The loss of their 11-goal top scorer is a major blow for the Black Cats but it is understood that the injury is not as bad as was initially feared, meaning he could be out for three or four months rather than an even longer spell. Mowbray is reluctant to put an exact timescale on Stewart's return but he held out the possibility that the 26-year-old could be back in time for pre-season training.
"As the days roll on he becomes more and more positive," said Mowbray of the former Ross County man. "He is still on crutches with his big, protective, plastic boot on while he waits for surgery.
