TONY MOWBRAY is adamant Ross Stewart’s injury situation should not be a barrier to contract talks – and is hoping Sunderland will be able to tie the striker down to a new long-term deal before the end of the season.

Stewart is currently back in his native Scotland recovering from an operation to remedy the Achilles problem that will keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

While Sunderland have triggered a contractual clause in his contract extending his previous deal by another year, he has still entered the final 18 months of his current deal at the Stadium of Light.

His future was the subject of considerable conjecture during last month’s transfer window, and there is likely to be further outside interest ahead of the summer with a number of Sunderland’s Championship rivals known to be actively pursuing the 26-year-old.

The Black Cats are understandably keen to keep Stewart on Wearside, but while an initial round of contract talks took place last summer, they stalled without an agreement in place.

Mowbray claims Stewart’s injury situation has not changed his long-term thinking with regard to the Scotland international, and is hoping contractual discussions will be resurrected in the next few weeks.

“I would expect those talks to intensify,” said the Sunderland boss, ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to QPR. “I think we should be trying to get Ross Stewart signed up long term.

“I’ve said it many times, it’s not my job, but in my mind, if he’s the player that you think can score the goals for this club moving forward, then you need to get things sorted regardless of whether he’s fit to play or not.

“If you believe in the footballer and the guy, that’s the most important thing. Maybe the dynamics of it change a little bit for both parties (because of the injury), but the key thing in my mind would be to get an offer that looks enticing for Ross and his family. Let’s get him tied up, and let’s move forward.”

Stewart’s season was ended by the Achilles injury sustained in last month’s FA Cup fourth-round draw at Fulham, although while it was initially feared he could be sidelined for the best part of a year, he should be available to return for the start of pre-season training in the summer.

He has undergone a successful operation, and is due back on Wearside in the next couple of weeks to begin his rehabilitation programme.

“Ross has had his surgery and has gone back to Scotland for a week,” confirmed Mowbray. “It’s not something you can rush from the first day, with the tenderness of an operation. He needs to let it settle down, and then the proper rehab will start in a week or so once the swelling and soreness from the operation has gone down.

“He’ll be fine. He’s a strong personality and he’ll get on with it, just like Corry (Evans). They’ll both get on with it, and I’m sure they’ll be spending a lot of time in the gym and the rehab pool together over the next few months.”