Joe Gelhardt is relishing the challenge of stepping into Ross Stewart's shoes for the rest of the season after making his Sunderland debut at Millwall. The striker signed on loan from Leeds United the week before last to share the goalscoring burden with the Scotland international but those plans were torn up within 48 hours when the Scotland international suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham.
That has left Gelhardt as Sunderland's sole out-and-out centre-forward, and he will now step into the spotlight. The 20-year-old started the Black Cats' 1-1 draw against Millwall at The Den and, while he could not mark the occasion with a goal, he showed enough promise to suggest that he will get goals in the 17 Championship games that remain.
Of taking on Stewart's mantle, Gelhardt said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge, and there's pressure because Ross scored so many goals. It's unfortunate that he has got injured but I'm in the team now and I like the pressure."
