TONY Mowbray has outlined what he believes is the missing ingredient from his side as Sunderland continue their efforts to sign a much-needed striker.

Mowbray says the Black Cats are lacking mobility in attack, an area that should be addressed in the coming days as the Championship club push to get a deal over the line.

With Ross Stewart still at least a month away from being ready to return from his serious Achilles injury, summer signing Hemir is the only fit recognised striker on the books. But the 20-year-old lacks experience and Mowbray has stressed the need for patience with the Portuguese frontman.

Hemir started the first game of the season against Ipswich Town but was a substitute for the trip to Preston and home win over Rotherham, with Bradley Dack and Jobe Bellingham deputising up-front.

While Bellingham in particular made a success of his stint up-top - scoring both goals in the Rotherham win - it's clearly not a long-term answer to Sunderland's striker issues.

"We're trying to control the game on most occasions, and then it's about seeing whether teams are going to press or sit off in a block," said Mowbray.

"That's why ultimately you need some mobility at the top end because if people are sitting in a mid-block and your centre-half doesn't think they can get through the lines, sometimes you have to go over the top with some speed and some threat.

"At the moment that's what's missing from this team, because that's not really Hemir or Dack's game. Jobe has that powerful running action that can pressure people, of course, but it's not necessarily speed.

"If we can get a striker in who wants to run in behind and wants to stretch them, it'll give us more space us to play in - that'll help us create more chances and win more games."

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Mowbray said last week that a deal to sign a striker was close. Sunderland's head coach will provide an update when he speaks to the media this afternoon.

Fulham's Jay Stansfield - who is wanted by as many as five Championship clubs - is one striker of the strikers on Sunderland's wishlist, but Mowbray confirmed last week that three other frontmen are also of interest.

Stansfield impressed on loan at Exeter last season and Marco Silva says Fulham are carefully considering the next move for the young striker. Sunderland have a fine reputation for their handling of young players, particularly on the back of Amad Diallo's success last season.

Sunderland have tabled bids for Nazariy Rusyn this summer, but the Ukrainian striker is also wanted by clubs in Belgium.