Sunderland fans hand major honour to Black Cats star after stunning season

Former Albion Rovers striker Ross Stewart has scooped supporters' player of the year at English League One club Sunderland.

The striker has thrived during an outstanding campaign to date and has netted 22 goals.

It caps off a brilliant fortnight for Stewart, after he received his first international call-up for Scotland at the end of March.

His ascent up the football ladder has been steep. Starting off in the junior ranks, the 25-year-old joined Albion Rovers in 2016 from Kilwinning Rangers and his form in Coatbridge earned him a move to St Mirren a year later.

He hasn't looked back since and is now aiming for promotion to the Championship at Sunderland, following his move to the Black Cats from Ross County in 2021.

Stewart told the BBC: "I had a good pre-season, looked after myself, and then I had the base to go and hit the ground running.

“I think the fans have seen what I was brought to the club to do, and hopefully I can keep doing that because it's been a really good season for me.

“You've probably seen me do a bit of everything this season. I'm really happy with the goal return that I've got but I always try and offer myself as a link going forward.

"When you've got the players that we do in those squad, I know that if I can be that link for me, they'll then create those chances for me.

“That's been key to us doing well this season.”

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