Injury will not affect Ross Stewart contract talks, says Kristjaan Speakman
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has confirmed Sunderland remain determined to agree a new contract with Ross Stewart despite his season-ending injury.
Stewart is inside the last 18 months of the contract he signed when he joined from Ross County in January 2021.
He has become a star performer for Sunderland, scoring 26 League One goals last season and 11 more this year in the Championship despite only featuring in 14 games.
That season has now come to a premature end after he suffered a serious Achilles injury at Fulham. He will undergo surgery next week.
However, Speakman has confirmed that the injury will not affect plans to extend his deal, and the resumption of contract talks are imminent.
"Our ambition has always been to re-sign Ross and that remains the case," Speakman told the Sunderland Echo.
"We've obviously got to be sensitive around the situation at the present time but I'm sure there will be a conversation in the near future about where we're at with that.
"It was only natural that we put that on hold coming into the January window, because I don't think those conversations are ever that productive during a transfer window.
"We're all absolutely gutted for Ross, a player who has not had the opportunity to play at this level before and has done so well.
"And for a player who has been so robust for us to suffer two major injuries - it's gutting for him as an individual and for the club."
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