Sunderland may dip into the transfer market to find a replacement for skipper Corry Evans with the midfielder set to miss the remainder of the season. The Black Cats confirmed this morning that the Northern Ireland international had suffered cruciate ligament damage in Sunday's win against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light and needs to go under the knife.
And with Evans expected to sit out the rest of their campaign, head coach Mowbray said today that the club could look to bring in another midfielder to fill the gap left by the influential 32-year-old. Homegrown midfielder Dan Neil can play in the deep-lying role that Evans normally occupies and the club this week signed 21-year-old Pierre Ekwah from West Ham, although Mowbray says Ekwah is not in the same mould as Evans.
"We've had some initial conversations [about transfers] so we just have to wait and see how it impacts on the other stuff that we're trying to do," said Mowbray. "We have added extra competition with Pierre Ekwah and we're pushing on with other areas of the pitch but we've got a few days to potentially to look at it and see if something could be done.
READ MORE: Sunderland suffer major injury blow with Corry Evans set to sit out the remainder of the season
"Watching Pierre today in training, he looks full of energy, he's got a lovely left foot and will bring balance to the squad - it's just that he hasn't played a first-team game yet. So he wasn't a replacement for Corry, he was brought into supplement what we have and we've obviously got to be careful that we don't end up with a load of kids in such a crucial part of the pitch.
"Pierre doesn't do what Corry does in terms of sitting behind the ball and having that discipline to break up counter-attacks, he's a footballer who wants to play passes and drive on towards the box. He's a young boy and it's hard to have the discipline that all the experience Corry has brings.
"He's not a replacement for Corry so we'll have to see what the next few day brings, whether there's the opportunity to bring in someone who is similar to Corry."
Sunderland are also looking to bring in at least one striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, with the Black Cats desperate to add competition and cover for top scorer Ross Stewart.
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