TONY Mowbray fears Ross Stewart could be set for a long spell on the sidelines after the striker was stretchered off in the 1-1 draw at Fulham in the FA Cup.

Stewart suffered an Achilles injury in the early stages at Craven Cottage after "something popped" as he chased a loose ball.

Mowbray doesn't want to jump to conclusions until Sunderland get scan confirmation early next week, but admitted the injury overshadowed what was a superb display by his side against their Premier League hosts.

"He's got his big boot on, I think it's an Achilles injury," said Mowbray.

"I've just been speaking the doctors and because he's not hopping and screaming about, it's potentially a complete tear which could be a long, long time.

"Let's wait an see. I shouldn't jump to conclusions, I'm not a doctor, he has an Achilles injury, something popped as he made a darting run and we're concerned about it. In the same week we lost Corry Evans, our skipper, it's a big blow."

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Sunderland signed Joe Gelhardt on loan on Friday but the plan was for the Leeds United loanee to come in and support Stewart rather than replace him. Mowbray says he will now sit down with recruitment chiefs to decide whether Sunderland need to look to sign another striker before Tuesday's deadline.

He said: "For the bigger picture for our club, Ross Stewart, when I first arrived he scored two goals in the first game then got injured in the warm-up for the next game and didn't ply for three months.

"We found it difficult to score goals and yet he came back and scored every time he goes on the pitch. And yet here he is having picked up another injury, so it is a concern.

"The positive is we signed young Gelhardt from Leeds this week on loan and, just talking to the head of recruitment outside there, whether we keep in the market we'll have to wait and see."