Update emerges on Ross Stewart's situation at Southampton FC | OneFootball

Southampton have the option to extend former Sunderland striker Ross Stewart's contract.

Southampton striker Ross Stewart's contract runs out at the end of the season, but his Saints career may not be coming to an end just yet.

The 29-year-old moved to St Mary's from Sunderland in 2023 and has gone on to score five goals in 35 appearances for the Hampshire outfit.

Stewart has become a more important figure for Southampton since fellow forward Adam Armstrong joined Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers in the winter transfer window.

The former Sunderland man notched a goal and an assist when the Saints successfully overturned a 3-0 deficit to beat Leicester City 4-3 on 10 February.

Southampton have the option to extend Ross Stewart's contract

Stewart's Southampton stint has largely been plagued by injury struggles, but he has managed to score four goals and produce three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this term.

Meanwhile, reporting via X on Tuesday, the Southern Daily Echo's George Rees-Julian revealed that the Saints have the option to extend the striker's contract.

His most recent Championship start came when Tonda Eckert's men defeated Watford 1-0 on 7 February, and he went on to make a strong impact from the bench against Leicester.

Ross Stewart must stay fit to earn new Southampton deal

Stewart previously starred in Scotland for the likes of St Mirren and Ross County before joining Sunderland in January 2021.

He proved his worth in the English game in the 2021/22 season, firing the Black Cats to promotion from League One by scoring 26 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions.

The former St Mirren man then went on to play his part as Sunderland reached the Championship play-offs the following campaign, notching 10 goals and three assists in 13 second-tier outings, but his season was cut short through injury.

When Stewart signed for Southampton in 2023, then Saints director of football Jason Wilcox told the club website: "Ross is a really dynamic and intelligent player, so we’re delighted to have added him to the group.

"His form and development over the past couple of seasons have been very impressive, and we’re confident this will be a great place for him to continue that.

"He’s got a fantastic work-rate, and he’s a great character too, so we believe he’ll be a really popular addition and an excellent fit for us."

However, the striker was unable to show those qualities in his first season at St Mary's, as an Achilles injury ensured that he made just four league appearances.

He was then able to make just 13 appearances, scoring one goal, when Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last campaign.

Stewart has managed to make 18 outings this term and is beginning to show his quality in the final third for the Saints.

However, if he encounters yet another injury issue, Eckert's men appear unlikely to hand him a fresh contract, so he could become a free agent this summer.