Sunderland’s Ross Stewart missed the recent game at Middlesbrough following an injury sustained during the warm-up. Without their main striker and top scorer, the Black Cats struggled, especially in the final third with Ellis Simms unable to trouble Boro’s central defenders.
Sunderland’s performance without the Scotland international showed how reliable they are on their main man and their formation which includes playing two strikers.
Sunderland’s Ross Stewart a Big Miss When Unavailable
🚑 An injury update from the Sunderland boss#SAFChttps://t.co/hgWGe75YzB
— Sunderland Echo SAFC (@sunechosafc) September 6, 2022
Injury Update
Following the game, head coach Tony Mowbray gave an update on his striker. He said: “He was shooting in the warm-up, he’s popped a muscle in his thigh.
“It seems a very isolated spot so whether it’s a tear in the upper thigh where he’s struck the ball… I can’t tell you any more at the moment, it needs a scan. It’ll either come back grade one, two or three and it’s two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Pressing Forward
If you have seen Sunderland this season you will be aware that they like to press the opposition at the first available opportunity. This usually commences after the opposing goalkeeper plays the increasingly common short goal kick or throw.
Ross Stewart is the main man to begin the pressing and quickly his teammates follow suit to put their opponents under increasing pressure with the hope of winning the ball back quickly.
Without Stewart, the Black Cats did not have the intense pressing from their striker and it showed with Middlesbrough being allowed too much time on the ball.
Goals and Forward Runs
Stewart is Sunderland’s top scorer at present this season with five goals. His 24 league goals last season played a major part in helping the Black Cats achieve promotion.
His running off the ball has also played a major role in how the team attack. Always on the move, he will make himself available for short passes or more direct ones for him to chase. His teammates now know the type of runs he will make; however, without him, there was little in the way of an outlet when Sunderland did get on the ball.
Tony Mowbray Must Find a Solution
Sunderland failed to sign a striker before the transfer window closed. With just two first-team forwards in Stewart and Ellis Simms at the club and their preference of playing with two strikers, failing to recruit another could prove a major mistake.
Should Stewart be out for the foreseeable future, Mowbray must find a solution. Reverting to a lone striker is his main option; however, this failed to work at Middlesbrough. The team were given very little notice of the change in formation therefore another try is the most likely outcome.
Should the Scot be out long term then other options are available. The free transfer market, use a current first-teamer as a striker or promote a player from the academy. Youngster Max Thompson has been performing well for the Under-21s scoring 5 goals in his last two games. A place on the substitutes bench could be in Thompson’s future sooner than he imagined.
