Sunderland’s Tony Mowbray provides update on potential Ellis Simms return from Everton | OneFootball

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray admits it is looking unlikely that striker Ellis Simms will be returning to the club from Everton.

Simms was recalled by the Toffees last month after a successful first half of the season at the Stadium of Light which saw him score seven goals in 17 appearances for the club, with then manager Frank Lampard deciding he was needed back at Goodison Park to help in their Premier League survival battle.

But Simms has only made two substitute appearances in the top flight since his return to Merseyside and Lampard’s dismissal as Everton manager this week has heightened speculation about a potential reunion with the Black Cats.

Mowbray is known to be in the market for attacking reinforcements with Ross Stewart currently the only senior striker on the club’s books following Simms’ departure.

But the 59-year-old conceded that with the closure of the window rapidly approaching, they cannot rely on Simms’ return and stressed the need for new recruits in the forward areas.

“Obviously, Ellis Simms was here but he went back to Everton and with what’s going on there at the moment it looks pretty unlikely that that option will be coming back because they haven’t got a manager. If someone goes into Everton, they would want to see all the players and work with them on the grass and feel whether you think they can help, not just because somebody tells you send someone back out on loan,” Mowbray told Chronicle Live.

“It looks as if that would be a really tight thing to rely on, to sit here and say ‘it’s OK, Ellis will come back’, because Ellis might not come back. Our job as a club is make sure that we cover all those bases, and we need if not one then two more strikers.”

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The verdict

Mowbray is correct to be realistic about the chances of bringing Simms back – particularly with Joe Gelhardt set to join from Leeds United.

Whoever replaces Lampard will likely be reluctant to let a striker leave given the goalscoring problems at the club and with so little time left in the window to find a replacement.

Simms was excellent for the Black Cats and his recall was a big blow, leaving Mowbray incredibly short on depth, with Stewart’s injury in the first half of the season underling the need for reinforcements before the window closes.

If there is a possibility of Simms returning, it is one Sunderland should attempt to get over the line, but they should also ensure they continue to pursue other targets.