Premier League Legend sends classy message to Southampton striker Super Striker after £20m move with Sunderland
Sunderland interim head coach Mike Dodds has delivered a classy message to Southampton striker Ross Stewart after his recent injury woes.
Stewart, who worked with Dodds during his time at Sunderland, joined Southampton from the Black Cats for a fee of around £10 million when dealing with an Achilles tendon injury.
Since joining the club, the Scottish striker has made two substitute appearances for the Saints but has been sidelined since November. Recently, Saints boss Russell Martin confirmed that the 27-year-old’s season is all but over, having played less than a half of football since his summer move.
“I have a lot of love and respect for Ross Stewart,” Dodds said when asked about the deal to take Stewart to Southampton from Sunderland and the player’s recent injury issues.
“Not only was he a good footballer for this football club but he is a great lad. He turned up every day with a smile on his face. He worked really, really hard. I’ll be honest, I am absolutely gutted and devastated for him.”
Stewart spent two full seasons at Sunderland after arriving on Wearside from SPL side Ross County in January 2021. Stewart started all 46 league games and three play-off fixtures as Sunderland won promotion from League One during the 2021-22 season.
“If he is listening to this, and I say this respectfully, I am not gutted or devastated that he is not available this weekend,” Dodds added. “I know how much he will be hurting right now. He wants to play football and I know he has had a year or so of being out and not being in a great place.
“So I do really wish him all the best and I hope he is back on the grass playing as soon as possible, just not this weekend, but I have nothing but good things to say about Ross.
Sunderland are currently on a five-game losing streak under interim head coach Dodds and face Southampton in the Championship at St Mary’s on Saturday, with Stewart ruled out alongside two of his Saints teammates Juan Larios and Newcastle United loanee Ryan Fraser.
Moves have been made to honour two Sunderland stalwarts with prestigious civic awards.
Sunderland City Council’s cabinet of senior councillors has backed new nominations for the Honorary Freedom of the City, the highest honour the city can bestow. Freedoms are traditionally given by Sunderland City Council to those who have made “significant positive contributions to the reputation and wellbeing of the city and its residents”.
The latest nominations include Sunderland AFC legend Kevin Ball who has been involved with the club for more than 30 years. A cabinet report states his “popularity with generations of supporters has earned him a special place in Sunderland AFC’s history” and as a “proud, adopted Mackem he embodies the hard-working and honest spirit of the club and the city”.
