Alex Neil insists Ross Stewart's injury is 'nothing too significant' despite the Scotland international striker sitting out Sunderland's 2-0 friendly defeat against Roma. Stewart is Sunderland's only out-and-out senior striker, and his absence meant that Leon Dajaku had to lead the line against the Europa Conference League winners at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira, and as a result the Black Cats carried little attacking threat.
"Yeah, he just wasn't quite ready for today's game," Neil said of Stewart, who appeared to be be suffering from a groin injury in training on Monday. "It's nothing too significant.
"Obviously we had players who weren't completely in their normal position, but I thought they adjusted quite well."
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Asked whether it was a concern that Stewart is his sole specialist number nine, he added: "I certainly wouldn't say I'm relaxed [about it], but then I wouldn't say I'm relaxed about most things concerning my team. We need to add to that area, plain and simple.
"That's there for everyone to see, but equally, it's about other parties as well."
Bailey Wright was also missing from the squad against Roma, but in his case it was because he only began full training on Monday after returning for pre-season slightly later than the rest of the group due to his exploits with Australia over the summer. Neil said: "Bailey has been a little bit behind [after his international return] but I'd fully expect him to be involved on Saturday [against Dundee United]."
Sunderland competed well against Roma for an hour, but eventually when both sides began making substitutions the gaps began to show. Neil said: "I thought that we more than held our own, against a really strong team.
"I thought tactically we were very good. As it wore on we changed the team slightly, brought a couple of youngsters on, and that can sometimes unbalance the side a bit.
"When they changed as well, they had fresh legs at the top end of the pitch and we probably dropped a bit deeper than we did in the first half. That then made it harder for the lads at the top end of the pitch to put pressure on the ball.
"We had a good chance to take the lead [through Dajaku] as well, which unfortunately we couldn't take. And I can assure, even if it's just standing, this heat [is tough].
"The Roma lads will be much more accustomed to that. So to be honest I expected a bit of a drop off towards the end, but I thought the effort and the endeavour of the lads was very good.
"We don't want to lose any games but I've got no complaints at all, to be honest. When you look at when you're capable of and how you can get to those levels, I thought a lot of the lads reached those levels today.
"It was a great experience for a lot of our lads. I thought over the course of the game, the heat and their fresh legs [told]. But it was nothing concerning. Fitness wise in particular, I'm happy with where we are."
Neil was forced into a change on the stroke of half-time with Luke O'Nien, who had already been booked, running the risk of a red card after catching a Roma player - albeit accidentally - with a stray arm. "Well, when you're given the option of making a substitution or playing with ten men in this heat, I don't think the latter is going to do anyone any good," said Neil.
"I thought it was a bit of an overreaction for the second one. He goes to try to win the header, and he gets a push so his arm naturally goes up.
"I thought it was accidental, there was no malice in it. To be fair, I thought it was handled well."
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