TONY Mowbray admits a Sunderland return for Ellis Simms ahead of Tuesday night's transfer deadline would be a "huge" boost in the wake of Ross Stewart's injury.

The Black Cats have monitored the Simms situation all month since his recall by Everton at the start of the window, but turned their attention elsewhere last week, capturing Joe Gelhardt on loan from Leeds United.

Now, though, Sunderland look set to have to try and source another striker ahead of Tuesday's deadline after Stewart was stretchered off against Fulham, with Mowbray admitting he fears his top scorer could be out for a "long, long time".

That could lead Sunderland back to Simms, though it's still not clear whether Everton, who are set to appoint Sean Dyche as manager, will be willing to let him go back out on loan.

Mowbray said: "Ellis Simms, if he comes back will be huge for this football club, because he gives us a focal point at the front end of the pitch. He scored some massively important goals before he was recalled to Everton.

"There’s a few days to go. I’m assuming Sean (Dyche) is now in with his feet under the desk. Whether they make a quick decision on Ellis Simms, I don’t know. Whether they bring another striker in and Ellis is allowed to come back, it would be pretty appropriate for our team to give us a focal point and score goals."

Sunderland made three signings last week, with Pierre Ekwah and Isaac Lihadji arriving with Gelhardt, but Mowbray still hopes to further strengthen his squad in the coming days.

He said: "What are we expecting? Our head of recruitment is outside that door and I’ll be speaking to him in a minute. I don’t really know. I’m the head coach, not the manager, but I do know that we need some support, or the young team does.

"Hopefully there’s some business to be done in the next few days, but I would say as well it’s fantastic that young Gelhardt is coming in. Pierre came on the pitch today and looks a real talent.

"We just need some bodies. You see our bench today, we had a 15-year-old on the pitch and the other three lads that didn’t get on the pitch were 16, 17 years-old. We are really short on numbers and we picked up an injury. If we have 18 league games to go, we probably need a bit of help."

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As well as now looking for a striker, Sunderland are also pondering whether to try and sign a midfielder to replace Corry Evans, who was this week ruled out for the rest of the season. Ekwah came on at Fulham but he's a different type of player to the captain.

Mowbray said: "I thought Pierre Ekwah did extraordinary well. That was his first game of professional football other than Under-23s. He came on and acquitted himself really well. I’m not saying he’s a replacement for Corry, he’s another young kid who can help us moving forward."

The future of Bailey Wright remains uncertain, with a number of clubs keen on the Australian international. He was absent at Fulham after suffering a calf strain in training on Friday.