Ross Stewart insists his goalscoring return at Hull City has proved his injury problems are behind him as he looks forward to the second half of Sunderland's Championship campaign. The Scotland international striker made an excellent start to the season with five goals in the opening seven games until a thigh injury at the beginning of September ruled him out for three-and-a-half months.
But he made his comeback in the weekend 1-1 draw against the Tigers at the MKM Stadium, entering the action from the bench on the hour and needing only 15 minutes before getting on the scoresheet to put the Black Cats - who were down to ten men at that point following Elliot Embleton's dismissal - ahead. "It's been a tough period," Stewart told the club's official website.
"When you're out that long and then you get a couple of setbacks in there, it's really frustrating. That's me back now and I know the work I've put in behind the scenes and that came to show as I was able to grab the goal.
READ MORE: Sunderland's Dan Ballard on being thrown in at the deep end on long-awaited return
"I can look forward now, look to get back involved and try to help this team. It's never nice missing as much as I did but I'll put that behind myself and look forward."
Despite resuming full training a couple of weeks ago, Stewart had played only an hour of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Middlesbrough before his inclusion amongst the subs at Hull. He said: "It's tough because you can't really prepare yourself for the match sharpness apart from playing games.
"It was good to get as long as I got [against Hull] and hopefully with the games to come, it's a busy period over Christmas, I can get more. I'll continue to look after myself and hopefully I can continue to help this team."
Stewart's goal left the ten men of Sunderland 15 minutes from victory against Hull, but they could not hang on and Tigers sub Ozan Tufan levelled eight minutes from the end. Sunderland were backed by another big away following at the MKM and Stewart was disappointed that the team could not deliver a victory for them, but all eyes are now on the Boxing Day game against Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light and making a winning start to the second half of the season.
Stewart said of the travelling fans: "They never disappoint, they sell out every away day. You can hear them the minute we come out for the warm-up.
"They’'e been unbelievable for us this season and will continue to be unbelievable for us. It was good to get a tough point on the road, we wanted to send them home with three, but their noise and their support doesn't go unnoticed for the players.
"Even for myself back in the matchday squad, the noise when I was going out warming up was special so it's great for me to feel that again. Hopefully Boxing Day we can get a win for them."
READ NEXT:
- Ross Stewart reminds Sunderland what they've missed, as ten men Black Cats earn a point at Hull City
- Liam Rosenior's take on Elliot Embleton's red card, and 'two points dropped' against Sunderland
- Tony Mowbray hints at when Ross Stewart could return to Sunderland's starting XI
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray fears Elliot Embleton has suffered a serious injury in draw at Hull
- Hull City 1-1 Sunderland player ratings as Stewart returns with a goal but Embleton sees red
