An early update has emerged on Sunderland striker Ross Stewart and his fitness ahead of next week's clash with West Brom...

What's the latest?

Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray has revealed that the club are hopeful that he will be able to feature against the Baggies after failing to make the squad against Millwall.

The head coach has confirmed that it was too soon to risk him against the Lions and that he may now get minutes in a friendly in midweek before returning to the squad next week.

He told Chronicle Live: "The medical department felt it was a dangerous thing, so if I had been sitting here and Ross had started or come off the bench and then had to go off because he was limping, people would be saying that I'd got it wrong and shouldn't have risked it.

"Ross can train for a whole week, he's got nine days now before the West Brom game and he will have plenty of training. We've got a bounce game in midweek against Middlesbrough and we'll debate whether to give him some of that, because he was champing at the bit after two days' training.

"So we might play him on Wednesday for 20 minutes or half-an-hour if we think he is ready, and then hopefully by a week on Monday [against West Brom] he will be ready."

Huge boost

His potential return could be a huge boost to Mowbray's squad as the striker's form in the early part of the season proved that he has the quality to make a big impact at this level.

The Scotland international produced five goals and three assists in seven appearances for the Black Cats before picking up his injury, whilst averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.66. Only Sheffield United's Oliver Norwood (7.66) can match that rating in the Championship and this suggests that the forward has been one of the top performers in the division this season.

Aji Alese's score of 7.07 is the second-best score within the Sunderland squad and Stewart could, therefore, come back and be Mowbray's star player at the top end of the pitch if he is able to recapture his best form.

The 26-year-old, who scored 26 goals in League One last term, has been in prolific form for the Black Cats since the start of last season and his impressive goal return highlights why his return could be huge lift for Mowbray in the coming weeks and months.

Hopefully, Stewart will now get through the next week of training without any issues and will be able to play a part against West Brom, whether that is from the start or off the bench.

Goals win games and the former Ross County man has proven that he has the ability to find the back of the net consistently, both in League One and the Championship, which is why Mowbray will be desperate to have him back out on the pitch.