https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...sends-contract-message-ross-stewart/?ref=ebls
TONY Mowbray has urged Ross Stewart to "grow with Sunderland" and says while the
Black Cats might not be able to match the salaries of some Championship clubs now, they will be able to in the future if they continue to progress on the pitch.
Mowbray says he believes Sunderland are on the right path to "satisfying Stewart's needs" but for now, with the striker's long-term future still uncertain, the head coach admits he needs to "trust the men in suits".
Stewart has 18 months left on his current contract but with the club and player so far unable to agree terms on long-term deal, the speculation surrounding the striker's future won't go away.
Mowbray said: “I will only be confident when he puts pen to paper and we are announcing he has signed a new deal. I don’t what to delve into it too much. What I do know is he is training really well, is in a positive frame of mind, he has a voice and an opinion on the training ground.
"He is engaged with our football team and our football club. That is what I see every day out there. He wants us to win and do well. Beyond that, I cannot really comment because it is not my job. I just want him to enjoy his football and score goals and win.
"We all hope that we can find an answer what keeps Ross happy and make him feel a very, very important player for this football club. And when we get to the point where we grow the team to a point where we can satisfy his needs, if that makes sense.
"The context is we did come out of League One with League One salary levels. Everything about the club had to be managed prudently. How quickly can you jump up to being a top team who can pay him ridiculous money? We are not there yet. We have to grow it and I just hope he wants to be part of the journey.
"And when we are paying top wages because we are a massive football club who should be able to do that, he knows it is coming but we have to grow the team to get there. At the moment, there is a lot of clubs way further on than we are salary wise.”
Mowbray added: “You have to trust the people sometimes, the ownership, the board, the executives, the men in suits.
“Those of us in the tracksuits, we just work with the players, trying to inspire young guys to play and be the best version of themselves. I think supporters just want a winning team but they are realistic enough to know that we have come from League One and we are competing. As long as they see a team fighting for every point, I hope they will stay with us."