Former Premier League defender Steve Howey reckons that Sunderland still need to replace Charlie Wyke’s goals.
Wyke scored 31 goals in all competitions last season, with 25 coming in League One as the Black Cats finished in the top-six.
His final goal in the red and white came in Sunderland’s play-off semi-final meeting with Lincoln, but it wasn’t enough to see Lee Johnson’s side progress to the final.
After his goalscoring exploits, Wyke, out of contract, rejected a new deal over the summer and opted to join League One rivals Wigan.
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Ironically, Wyke’s Latics debut came against Sunderland on the opening-day, with the Black Cats running out 2-1 winners.
They have won three of their opening four competitive matches this season but are yet to bring in a striker following Wyke’s absence, although Ross Stewart has stepped up by scoring twice in three outings.
However, with Wyke second in the goalscoring charts only to Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris last season, Howey has urged Johnson to replace him.
He exclusively told This is Futbol:
“But with Charlie Wyke, who scored 30 goals last season, going, you’re thinking, where are the goals going to come from? So, the business that they do has to be shrewd.”