TONY Mowbray admits Sunderland will need to look into signing another striker in January if their current crop of frontmen don't hit the goal trail in the coming weeks.

But that's not to say the Black Cats boss is writing off the four centre-forwards currently on the club's books.He seems promise in Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn, Hemir and Eliezer Mayenda and thinks Sunderland will see the best of them in time - but accepts strikers are ultimately judged on goals.

And with Mowbray of the belief that his side will need to hit 70 goals if they're to finish in the top six of the Championship this season, he admits bringing in a striker might well be on Sunderland's January to-do list.

"They will all get their chance and if they do not score, I hope we will bring in a striker who can score to help us get the 70 goals we will probably need to make the play-offs," admitted Mowbray.

"We've talked about the striker position. These lads have a brilliant opportunity and if they're not scoring a goal and they've all played 10, 15 games each and there are no goals still then something is wrong and we need to address it, but that's every position."

Sunderland's strikers are still goalless so far this season.

Burstow started seven games as Mowbray handed the Chelsea loanee an opportunity to nail down a place as the first choice frontman, but he was replaced by Rusyn for the win over Norwich and draw at Swansea, with the Ukrainian set to keep his place for today's lunchtime visit of Birmingham City. Hemir caught the eye in the summer but is still finding his feet while Mayenda has not yet featured having suffered an injury in his first training session. He's expected to be named on the bench for the first time today.

Mowbray said: "They are all young players on different levels, though Naz is not as young. He is getting his opportunity right now. He came over, did not speak the language too well, he's still doing his lessons.

"We started Mason for seven games. Somewhere along the line I hope he can get started coming off the bench because we have moved on to Naz to see if he can impact the team, score goals and basically help us win matches.

"Mason helped us win football matches, it's just he did not score and strikers get judged on goals scored and the data and assists.

"Hemir did well pre-season though I would question the standard of opposition. It wasn't quite the standard we're playing against now. Mayenda is just coming into fitness now. Everyone will be given their opportunity and given time to see if they can do it.

"Mason will get more chances off the bench, I have to give Hemir another opportunity somewhere down the line, every day we're ramming into him what he needs to do to play for this club."

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Where the summer arrivals are concerned - particularly Rusyn who speaks very little English - Mowbray knows patience is required.

He said: "It may be a year before we look at Naz and say 'wow, what a player'.

"They all have to acclimatise, it is not fair to judge them on their first few months when they are struggling to learn the language and don't get the banter in the dressing room.

"If you knock around with Clarke, Pritchard, Roberts, Dack, Hume, Neil, you're in that close-knit gang, but they're not because they don’t get the banter.,

"It is difficult for them, they do not understand everything and you can feel it. It’s tough being the odd one out, a bit uncomfortable. Naz has come from Ukraine and plonked himself in the North East of England and does not understand everything. He has to learn as he goes along. You cannot integrate straight away and become everyone’s best friend.”