ROSS Stewart is set for surgery on his Achilles injury next week, with Sunderland confirming the striker won't play again this season.
The striker suffered the injury in the early stages of the 1-1 draw with Fulham in the FA Cup clash last weekend.
It has since emerged that Stewart's injury isn't as bad as first feared, with the 26-year-old having suffered a partial tear rather than a full rupture.
But he is still set to spend the rest of the campaign on the sidelines, with Joe Gelhardt now Sunderland's lone senior striker after the club failed to land another frontman in the final days of the transfer window.
"Sunderland AFC can confirm that Ross Stewart will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury," said the club on Thursday.
"The striker was stretchered off during Saturday’s draw at Fulham, and will undergo surgery next week before beginning his rehabilitation.
"You’ll be back stronger, Ross!"
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Leeds loanee Gelhardt now looks set to make his first start for the Black Cats at Millwall on Saturday, with Tony Mowbray saying he plans "unleash him on the league and see how he gets on".
Sunderland had hoped to bring back Ellis Simms on deadline day as they looked for a Stewart replacement, but Everton's inability to sign forwards meant the Toffees weren't willing to allow the young striker back to the Stadium of Light, where he spent the first half of the season on loan.
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