ROSS STEWART is unlikely to be available for the start of the new Championship season, heightening Sunderland’s need for further attacking reinforcements in the next few weeks.

And while talks over a new contract for the Scotland international continue, the Black Cats have been unable to reach an agreement with Stewart and his representatives that would end the ongoing uncertainty over his future.

Stewart has been sidelined since suffering a serious Achilles injury during January’s FA Cup fourth-round game at Fulham, and while his recovery has progressed smoothly in the last five months, he is still some way away from being able to take part in full training.

He will not be able to link up with the rest of Sunderland’s first-team squad for the start of pre-season training at the start of next week, and while he should be back on the grass by the start of August, he is unlikely to feature in the opening game of the new Championship season against Ipswich Town.

“Ross won’t be (ready) at the front end of the pre-season period,” confirmed sporting director Kristjaan Speakman. “It’s more likely to be in the middle or towards the end.

“I wouldn’t want to give out false information to anyone, and we’ll have to see (how he progresses), but that means we would doubt whether he will be ready to start the season. All the injured players have been working really hard during the summer with the medical staff.”

Stewart’s unavailability for the start of the new season is something of a headache for Tony Mowbray and the rest of Sunderland’s coaching staff as the club remain short of attacking options despite the signing of Luis Semedo earlier this month.

Semedo, who spent last season playing with Benfica B, is an exciting prospect, but the 19-year-old is completely unproven in English football and it would be a big ask to expect him to lead the line on his own on the opening day of the new campaign.

The Black Cats continue to pursue alternative attacking options, and are hoping to push through a deal that would see them re-sign Ellis Simms from Everton on a permanent basis. Simms, who enjoyed a successful loan spell on Wearside in the first half of last season, is the subject of interest from a number of Championship clubs, although Everton are yet to make a firm decision on whether he will be allowed to leave Goodison Park this summer.

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Stewart’s own long-term future remains clouded in uncertainty, with talks over a potential new deal now having dragged on intermittently for more than a year.

The 26-year-old officially enters the final 12 months of his current contract at the start of next month, with the Sunderland hierarchy understandably keen to tie him down to a new long-term agreement.

Talks remain ongoing, but if a deal cannot be agreed before January, the Black Cats will find themselves in an extremely difficult position come the turn of the year, which would be their final chance to sell the striker for a fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Stoke City, led by former Sunderland boss Alex Neil, are known to be extremely interested in securing Stewart’s services, while the Scot has been on Rangers’ wanted list in the past.

“It’s (Stewart’s contract talks) just an ongoing conversation,” said Speakman, who was speaking at a forum with Sunderland fans at the Beacon of Light that tied in with the release of the fixtures for the new season. “We’ve been working really, really hard with the squad. We had a good conversation with Trai Hume and we managed to get that concluded.

“We had an equally long (discussion) with Dennis Cirkin and we’ve just managed to get that concluded, so I’m really optimistic that we can try to tick off some of these additional ones on the to-do list.

“I’ve said all along that it has to work for both sides, and that doesn’t mean there is any negativity on either side. As a player, you’ve got to be comfortable with your deal, and as a club, you’ve got to manage everything from your side with budgets etc. Hopefully, we can find a conclusion, and Ross getting fit is obviously going to be a key factor in that.”