Tony Mowbray has backed Ellis Simms to 'rise to the challenge' and take a leading role in the absence of Ross Stewart. The Black Cats are expected to be without their leading scorer Stewart for between six and eight weeks after he suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up ahead of Monday's defeat at Middlesbrough.
And that means more will be expected of on-loan Everton man Simms - who has scored three goals in seven outings so far - given that he is now the club's only fit, senior, centre-forward. "I think he will rise to the challenge," said Mowbray, "as long as he does not put too much of a burden on himself.
"That's why the rest have to step up as well. I think for Ellis, the biggest challenge is to play between the sticks when the chances are created.
