Stewart's long-lost shooting boots found at Deepdale

A striker that scored Premiership goals for fun (copyright Ron Atkinson) at Ipswich Town left his shooting boots in Suffolk when he joined Sunderland.

Injury problems, a loss of form and the challenge of being plunged into a losing team combined to turn Stewart's first season on Wearside into a virtual write-off.

Indeed, he got as many League goals (one) as red cards. And even inheriting Kevin Phillips's treasured No 10 shirt failed to galvanise Stewart; by his and Mick McCarthy's admission, he had a poor pre-season.

He was restricted to a bit-part role in Sunderland's first two League games, left on the bench as his manager fielded a rookie strikeforce of Kevin Kyle and Michael Proctor.

But at Deepdale on Saturday, the day after Sunderland said Goodnight Siena to Flo the Flop, Stewart illustrated why McCarthy placed implicit faith in him to fire their promotion charge.

Put simply, he was the difference between the sides. While Preston North End were ponderous in attack, Stewart's sharpness gave Sunderland a cutting edge.

He could have had a hat-trick in the first half; he scored one and had two shots saved, one of which directly led to Sean Thornton's opening goal.

It was his weighted through ball that also presented Matthew Piper with a glorious opportunity, but the midfielder struck a post.

Little wonder, then, that Preston manager Craig Brown described Stewart as "exceptional".

McCarthy, too, was delighted that his decision to recall the striker had been fully vindicated.

No one was more satisfied than Stewart, though, who after treading water at Sunderland for a year has the chance to become the club's talisman in difficult times.

"I didn't score in pre-season but, to me, those games don't matter," he said.

"There are no points at stake in pre-season; this is when it matters, and this is what I want to be judged on.

"I started the game and I'm pleased with what I achieved. I'm hungry for goals - the day that I stop feeling hungry will be the day I retire.

"I've been relegated in each of my last two seasons, but at every club I've been at, I've been involved in something positive.

"That hasn't happened at this club and it's something I want to change; I want to be involved in a positive time in this club's history.

"So far, it's all been negative, but I want to be involved in a promotion or a cup final with Sunderland.

"I've done it at other clubs and I'd be very disappointed if I didn't do it here."

Mart Poom preserved Sunderland's two-goal lead as Preston belatedly threatened to find a route back into a match that the visitors dominated from the moment Thornton scored.

But although Poom did well to deny Ricardo Fuller and Dickson Etuhu (twice), Stewart's prompting and probing had set the tone for the game.

McCarthy said: "Marcus didn't have a great pre-season but I said to him before the match that I think he's our best chance of getting goals; he's our best centre-forward with his experience, movement and finishing.

"I said, 'Listen, regardless of what you've done in pre-season, you're playing.' He's repaid my faith in him."

Stewart wants to carry on the good work when Watford, who knocked Sunderland out of the FA Cup in February, visit Wearside today.

He said: "The Watford game is just as important as the Preston game was.

"We've got to focus, prepare properly and get our first home win of the season.

"We need to get into the habit of winning again and we need to build some momentum. We became used to losing games and it's vital that we change that."

Thornton gave Sunderland the perfect start when he struck from close range after just four minutes.

Stewart, who tormented the hapless Michael Jackson throughout, forced another mistake from the Preston defender before doubling Sunderland's lead in the 40th minute.

Result: Preston North End 0 Sunderland 2.

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