Mowbray fears Stewart will be out for the rest of the season

Sunderland fear that Ross Stewart has suffered a potentially season-ending injury at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Stewart was stretchered off early in the 1-1 draw with Fulham, having felt his achilles pop when trying to put the homedefenceunderpressure.

TheScothaslefttheground in a protective boot and will need a scan to confirm the exact severity of the injury, but the club fear that he may have suffered a complete rupture.

If so, he is facing a long absence that would come as a major setback for both player and club.

Mowbray said: “Ross has got a big, protective boot on – it’s an achilles injury.

"I’ve just speaking to the doctors there and because he’s not hopping about and screaming in pain, it could potentially be a complete tear which would be a long, long time. Beyond that I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, something has popped as he makes that run and we’re concerned about him, having lost Corry Evans earlier this week.

"It overshadows things for us, in terms of the longer picture for us as a club.

"Ross scored two goals in my first game and then got injured the next week. We lost him for a long period and yet he came back and scored in every single game for us.

"The positive for us is that we’vesignedJoeGelhardtthis week and I’ll go and speak to our head of recruitment now and see if we can keep in the market [for another striker].”

Joe Gelhardt has revealed how his talks with Mowbray were key to his decision to join Sunderland on loan despite interest from across the Championship.

Sunderlandbeatanumber of their divisional rivals to the deal and the 20-year-old has explained how the team's attackingstyleandemphasison handing young players regular opportunities settled his decision.

"It was a tough decision, it's an important move for my development," Gelhardt said. "I spoke to the manager and he told me about how they play and the young lads and I think it just fits me perfectly. Once I spoke to him it was a no-brainer.

"I spoke to him and I just got a really good idea of what the club is like and how he works - I liked what I heard. I'mexcitedtoworkforhim.It's a very young squad here and an exciting one, and you can see them developing quickly. I can't wait to get out and play at the Stadium of Light."