Ever the optimist, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is determined to see the positives in the news of Ross Stewart’s injury-enforced absence. Yes, losing a striker who’s scored 31 goals since the start of last season – including five in seven Championship games – is, to quote Alex Neil’s Stadium of Light successor, ‘a big blow’.
But, as Mowbray is at pains to point out; “These injuries are always an opportunity for somebody else.”
Whether that ‘opportunity’ befalls Ellis Simms, a talented youngster or perhaps even an outside hire remains to be seen.
“You’d be silly not have a look at what’s on offer in terms of free agents,” Mowbray adds to the Northern Echo. “I’ve just been in with recruitment department and they’ve been telling me about free agents and passed on a few names to see if there’s any relevance.”
With Stewart facing two months on the sidelines after tearing a thigh muscle, the door might just have swung open for one of a number of talented centre-forwards available to sign right here, right now. One man’s misery, as they say, is another’s fortune.
Andy Carroll
Now, here us out. Andy Carroll may be a died-in-the-wool, cut-him-and-he-bleeds-black-and-white Newcastle United supporter. But the former Magpie is also a proven operator at Championship level and, at the age of 33, would surely jump at the opportunity to prolong his career, even if it means joining his old club’s arch rivals.
Carroll scored three times during a short-term spell at West Brom, offering a presence and physicality in the final third; two attributes Sunderland may be short off in Stewart’s absence.
The former England international was under consideration by Wolves earlier this week, before the Premier League outfit reached a breakthrough in their pursuit of Diego Costa.
Nicolai Jorgensen
Like Carroll, Jorgensen is a towering, 6ft 4ins targetman who would, in theory, thrive as the focal point of an attack containing the creative talents of Jack Clarke, Alex Pritchard and co. The Dane inspired Feyenoord to their only Eredivisie title since the turn of the Century in 2017, and should still have a lot to offer at the age of 31.
Miguel Angel Guerrero
While hardly the most prolific of centre-forwards, the well-travelled Guerrero can still thrive in the right system. He boasts 12 La Liga goals on his CV, a Greek title at Olympiakos and, as recently as 2021, helped Rayo Vallecano secure their return to the Spanish top flight.
Hal Robson-Kanu
It’s been a year since Robson-Kanu last kicked a ball in a competitive setting. But, in an interview with The Athletic, the London-born workhorse insists that he has not hung up his boots just yet.
‘I’m fitter than most professional players,’ Robson-Kanu argues.
Sunderland could do worse than to put that claim to the test. The Welshman hit double figures in the Championship as recently as 2019/20 after all.
“Hal Robson-Kanu has really performed,” former Sunderland and West Brom striker Kevin Phillips said a couple of years ago. “He has always been an exciting player. I’ve always liked his work ethic and his hold-up play. But this season he has added the goals.
“I think he is getting into better positions. He is a right handful for any defender in the league.”
Yaya Sanogo
The one-time Arsenal prospect did not make too much of an impression during a short-term spell at Huddersfield Town recently. But he is yet to celebrate his 30th birthday, and should be under consideration after a move to an unnamed Swiss Super League giant fell through.
Sanogo knows English football like the back of his hand after spells at Huddersfield, Arsenal, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.
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