Ross Stewart was 'eased back' into the Sunderland side at Hull City - but Tony Mowbray has hinted that his star striker could start on Boxing Day. Stewart has spent three-and-a-half months out of action with a thigh injury he picked up in early September, but he was named on the teamsheet for the first time since recovering when the Black Cats went to the MKM Stadium yesterday.
And he wasted no time in making an impact, coming off the bench and within 15 minutes scoring his sixth goal of the season to regain his status as the club's top scorer. Stewart played on half-an-hour on his return and head coach Mowbray insisted afterwards that he had not been tempted to start him against the Tigers.
But he did suggest that Stewart could now be available to start when Sunderland take on Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light in the lunchtime kick-off on Boxing Day. "You have to do the right thing," he said, following the 1-1 draw on Humberside.
