Former Sunderland player Kevin Phillips has told Football Insider that the club should prioritise signing a new striker during the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Black Cats currently only have Ross Stewart available to them as their only senior striker after Nathan Broadhead was ruled out for three months with a hamstring injury that he sustained in the club's recent game against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

Alongside Stewart only the likes of Aiden O'Brien and the inexperienced Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka can operate up front when required.

Now Phillips has suggested that the North East outfit need to target the signing of a new frontman as the window continues to quickly appear on the horizon:

"I think they need to bring in another forward.

"Somebody who can get goals, especially after the injury to Broadhead. They need to bring someone in who can take the pressure off Ross Stewart."

Stewart is far and away Sunderland's top scorer, with 12 goals across all competitions.

Meanwhile the likes of Broadhead and O'Brien have both scored seven and five goals respectively this term.

The Verdict 

Sunderland have done well up top now with regards to scoring goals because they have got them from a lot of other areas.

The main problem that could occur is if either Stewart gets injured or his goals begin to dry up, so for that reason they should seek to bring in some back up for the Scotsman.

There will be plenty of names that will be thrown into the mix as potential loan targets, whilst there is sure to be at least some money to spend on a potential permanent signing.

Whoever the Black Cats do bring in will be expected to hit the ground running, so for that reason it is key that Lee Johnson gets this expected signing right.