TONY Mowbray says Sunderland assessed every market in their search to sign a Ross Stewart replacement - and also revealed the Black Cats were "really close" to adding a midfielder in the final stages of the window.

Mowbray says Sunderland worked "extraordinarily hard" to sign a striker after Stewart suffered his Achilles injury at Fulham.

But after failing to land targets identified, Mowbray, the recruitment team and club bosses were all in agreement that they'd rather go with one frontman in Joe Gelhardt than panic and bring in a player who might not have fit on and off the pitch.

Mowbray revealed Sunderland were also "really hopeful" Ellis Simms would have returned had Everton managed to bring in players themselves on deadline day - but the Toffees' failure to strengthen their own attack meant that was a non-starter.

Sunderland have also considered the free agent market but opted against making a move for any players who are currently without a club.

Mowbray said: “At the top end of the pitch we worked extraordinarily hard for the two and a half days we had to find another striker. We were happy to go in with two top strikers in our opinion and now we find ourselves with one.

“It was really difficult late on to try and identify anybody. We have looked at every market and discussed the free players. At the moment we are happy to go with what we’ve got.

“I say happy but we were left disappointed with some of the targets that we had.

“I think it’s right to say there is a plan and we are trying to create an identity and a culture and I think it’s important that the right players come in that we identify and go through the processes.

“I would prefer to go into these games with the players we have got than bringing in any number nine because he has a number nine on his shirt.

“If he doesn’t fit the culture and identify and what we are trying to coach into the team, I think it’s more important to keep on doing what we are trying to do.”

Sunderland monitored the Simms situation throughout the month and always hoped he'd return late in the window after his Everton recall at the start of the month.

Mowbray said: “It was only about Everton at the end of the day.

“I know Sean really well and they were trying to do their business. If they had done their business I was really hopeful Ellis would be coming back.

“We were trying to do other business and weren’t sitting waiting on Ellis. If Ellis had of come through it would have been great and I’d have had a different type of problem trying to keep everybody happy to give them a game.

“It didn’t happen for Everton and didn’t happen for us.”

Stewart is set for surgery next week on his Achilles injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Mowbray said: "For the football team it’s obviously a huge blow.

"He’s a big personality around the group and I think the team feels safer with him on the pitch.

"You just hope there is a smooth rehabilitation. The medical department will have a clear plan for him and we look forward for the days we can get him back on the pitch."

Sunderland were also looking to sign a midfielder to replace Evans.

Mowbray said: “The difficulty is we have lost Corry Evans along with Ross Stewart. These are two men in a dressing room of kids really.

“We worked really, really hard to bring in another midfield player in of substance, of character who I know is a very, very good player. We got really close and it didn’t happen so we were left frustrated."