TONY Mowbray knows Sunderland are asking a lot of Joe Gelhardt as the only fit recognised striker on the club’s books – but the head coach says the Leeds United loanee is doing all he can to succeed on Wearside.

Gelhardt got off the mark for Sunderland but couldn’t prevent the Black Cats going down 2-1 at Rotherham on Tuesday night, a defeat that saw Mowbray’s side slip to eighth in the Championship standings.

Gelhardt was one of the most in-demand strikers in the Championship in January when Leeds made him available for loan and it was a major boost for Sunderland when they won the battle to sign the 20-year-old.

But just two days later, Ross Stewart suffered a season-ending injury at Fulham, and with Ellis Simms having been recalled by Everton, Gelhardt was left as Sunderland’s only striker for the second half of the season.

He’s started five games in a row and while the youngster is understandably still getting to grips with the way Sunderland play, a first goal for the youngster at Rotherham was the big positive in an otherwise disappointing night. And Mowbray is sure more goals will follow.

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Mowbray said: “I think he works really hard. He will score goals. He’s a good footballer. He’s disappointed he didn’t score another goal with the header after (Patrick) Roberts had flicked one into the box for him.

“Is it important he’s got off the mark? Listen, strikers have to score goals, don’t they? That’s their job. It’s what they do, although he’s only a very young boy and he’s being asked to play up front every game on his own.

“It’s not easy for him, and we have to try to give him support and help him. He has to keep working as hard as he is, and whether he can keep doing it for the next 13 games or whatever it is, is going to be a big ask.

“He’s only a boy who’s never really played consecutive games, but we’ll see. It’ll be a good learning curve for him.”