Sunderland star striker Ross Stewart is 'not far away' from making a first-team return, according to manager Tony Mowbray. The Black Cats have had to cope withour their talisman hitman since the end of August due to injury.
The 26-year-old scored a brace in Mowbray's first game in charge - a 3-0 win over Rotherham United - but has been out of action ever since. That, coupled with an injury to fellow forward Ellis Simms, hit Sunderland's progress after a bright start.
But speaking after Sunderland's 1-0 win over Al-Shabab in a friendly match following a week's warm weather training in Dubai, Mowbray revealed at Stewart was making good progress, while he was also impressed with Lynden Gooch and Aji Alese, who made their returns from lay-offs in the game.
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"The intensity of the game was really good for them (Gooch and Alese) to come back," said Mowbray. "When you've been out for a while it's difficult sometimes to integrate back in, yet they seemlessly did that.
"We have some more longer-term injuries in Dan Ballard and Ross Stewart - they're not far away, they're on the grass and training with their boots on, just not in with the team all the time at the moment but they wont be too far away.
"I said weeks ago it's going to exciting if and when we get a fully-fit squad and everyone to choose from. I think we've got plenty of positives and and options against the different teams we play to be able to give them different types of problems."
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