A REALISTIC Marcus Stewart concedes this could be his swansong campaign at Sunderland but hopes to go out in style by helping Mick McCarthy's men to the Premiership.

The experienced striker turned 32 this month and fears he may follow other elder-statesmen Jason McAteer, Phil Babb and Joachim Bjorklund out of the Stadium of Light.

Those fellow 30-somethings paid the penalty for Sunderland's failure to regain top-flight status last season and McCarthy allowed them to leave for nothing to reduce the club's huge wage-bill.

Stewart was close to joining boyhood heroes Bristol City but a deal could not be struck and has since become one of the Black Cats' regular front-men.

But the former Ipswich Town man, who arrived in August 2002 in a £10m double deal that also involved Norwegian Tore Andre Flo, is already coming to terms with the possibility that he may not be at the Wearside club next season.

Stewart, though, is determined to pass on his experience to the younger generation.

The Sunderland boss has drafted in Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead, Stephen Elliott, Stephen Caldwell, Danny Collins, Neill Collins and Mark Lynch since the end of May's play-off heartbreak and all are under 24.

There is a chance that Stockport's 20-year-old midfielder Andy Welsh could arrive next after spending this week training with the club.

Stewart insists that his role can be an important one over the next few months, just as McAteer and Babb found on the training pitch this time last year.

"My contract is up at the end of the season and I don't know what's going to happen that. I don't expect to be here next season but you never know," said Stewart.

"I could have been away in the summer but I had another year on my contract and I'm still here playing a part.

"I would like to think I'm having an influence on the younger players - just as the likes of Phil and Jason did last season.

"We all had important parts to play at this club and I would like to think that I have one now. I'm still enjoying it here and want to do my best for the club."

Stewart remains one of the club's highest paid players as he is one of the few still involved in the first team who played under Peter Reid and his successor Howard Wilkinson.

The forward has grabbed six goals in the Championship this season but he has not scored since his hat-trick in the 4-0 win at Gillingham on September 11.

His barren run has now extended to nine games and he would love to end the drought against Ipswich on Sunday.

The Tractor Boys are second, two places above Sunderland, and Stewart admits he hopes to see both book places back among the country's elite come May.

"I have a job to do here and I'm doing my best to do it. To get Sunderland back into the Premiership would be fantastic," said Stewart, whose side sit fourth.

"Ipswich play fantastic football and they are a fantastic club, just as Sunderland are. Both should be in the Premiership and maybe it can happen this season."

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