What Sunderland boss Alex Neil said about Sheffield Wednesday and transfers ahead of Carabao Cup clash

That brings us to the end of the broadcast section of the press conference but Neil has also spoken to the written press, including our chief SAFC writer Phil Smith.

We’ll have more from the Black Cats boss, as well as build-up to tomorrow’s match over on the SAFC section of the Echo website.

“I think you can make as many signings as you like but I’m not sure they would be the quality that you would want.

“I think that is where the difficulty comes in because there are thousands of players available.

“We need a specific certain type that want to come and play at this club, they need to have a certain type of mentality to play here because of the scrutiny and pressures that come with playing here.

“Equally they need certain types of qualities to make sure they are effective here so those players are hard to find.”

“There is not really anything significant I can tell you.”

“Obviously different context, the importance to that game, the build-up to that game and the first leg we produced a really good performance at our place.

“It’s going to be very different in the first round of the Carabao Cup, different competition and a different feel to the game but equally it still has importance.”

“They are not too dissimilar types, the two of them are six foot plus, very mobile, like to run in behind, are aggressive.

“I was very conscious and aware of the load that Ross had to carry for us last year and for 46 weeks he kind of carried the frontline on his own. If anything happened to him we would have been in real bother.

“It was so important that we got that ticked off in pre-season, making sure that we can get someone who can challenge and potentially replace Ross if needs be, but equally play alongside with him.”

Stewart on the scoresheet: “I think it was important for Ross to get off the mark and the fact that he scored the winner as well with a really good goal

“I thought his performance in the game was excellent, he’s the one that links it and sets it off for Alex for Ellis’ second goal and he also nicks the first one for Ellis to get the goal

“He played such an important role but if you don’t score a goal as a striker people will look at it and think he didn’t score.”

“It’s a chance to freshen things up a little bit, there are so many games ahead and it’s important to get minutes in the legs.

“It’s an opportunity for some guys to show what they can do.”

On the transfer front, Black Cats boss Alex Neil still wants to add four or five players to his squad before the end of the window.

Sunderland are set to miss out on the signing of Nathan Broadhead from Everton, though, with the forward set to join Championship rivals Wigan instead.

The Black Cats are still looking to sign another striker despite the loan arrival of Ellis Simms from Everton.

We’ll start with the team news for tomorrow’s match

Neil is set to make changes for the game at Hillsborough to give more minutes to players who haven’t started the last two league fixtures.

We can therefore expect the likes of Patrick Roberts, Luke O’Nien, Carl Winchester and Bailey Wright to feature.

“It’s not that it’s not a priority, that’s certainly not the way that I’m looking at it. It’s another important game for us, “ said Neil after Saturday’s win at Bristol City.

“Equally we have a squad that we will utilise and I need to give some of the other lads an opportunity and a chance to stake a claim to get themselves into the team.”