THE future of Marcus Stewart has been the subject of much debate on Wearside of late.

Stewart's renaissance continued last weekend when he bagged his second hat-trick of the season in Sunderland's 4-2 demolition of Watford. It took his tally to six in nine games and 12 for the season.

The striker, who comes to the end of his three-year contract in the summer, admits he doesn't know what the future holds.

Before Christmas, his prospects didn't look bright after an agonising 15 matches without a goal.

His fortunes have rapidly changed since he conjured that last-gasp winner at Nottingham Forest in late December, and it has coincided with his most impressive form since he joined the club nearly three seasons ago.

But manager Mick McCarthy won't be discussing a new contract with any player until he knows which league his team will be playing in next season.

"It is a bizarre fact that when Stewy was going 15 games without a goal no-one was asking about his contract," said a bullish Sunderland boss.

"Suddenly he's playing well and scoring a hat-trick and everybody wants to know what I am going to do about Marcus Stewart. Nothing has changed for me or Stewy.

"He'll be in a better position if we get promoted and he gets us the goals that get us promoted."

McCarthy admits there are several factors which will govern whether the Bristol-born striker extends his stay on Wearside.

He said: "Will we want to keep him? We'll have to sit down and talk to him about it. Will he want to stay? If he does, and both of those factors are positive in his favour, he'll be in a better position to negotiate a good contract in the Premier League. As I said last weekend a little bit of insecurity doesn't half make you work hard."

Former boss Peter Reid snapped up the former Tractor Boy as part of a multi-million pound double deal, which also brought Tore Andre Flo from Rangers. The pair were supposed to reverse the club's flagging fortunes.

But the pairing didn't click and Sunderland were faced with their worst nightmare when they were relegated with the lowest points total in Premiership history.

McCarthy admitted he was unaware of how Stewart had performed before he arrived on Wearside, but added his 12-goal striker has been 'different class' under his tutelage.

"Stewy came to the club as a £3.5m player and out of those who came to the club at that time he has been the most productive," commented McCarthy.

"Matt Piper has been injured and Tore Andre Flo is no longer at the club. I don't know what happened before I came but Stewy has been different class.

"But those long and lucrative contracts are long gone and it's not an issue and Stewy knows that. If the time comes and the situation arises then we'll discuss it then."

Meanwhile, McCarthy admitted he would love to have midfielder Colin Healy back in his squad.

The Republic of Ireland international is on the comeback trail after recovering from his second broken leg, sustained in a training ground accident last October, and is in light training.

Healy initially suffered a double break following an horrific tackle from Coventry's Youssef Safri in December 2003.

"He's doing all right," revealed McCarthy. "He's been running indoors on the mats and that's real progress.

"I would love to get Colin Healy back to the player he was 15 months ago before he broke his leg at Coventry.

"I brought him here because I thought he would be a terrific acquisition, whether we were in the Championship or the Premier League, because he has that ability.

"We're all hoping and crossing our fingers that he'll be OK."

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