MICHAEL BEALE has admitted the signing of a striker could be crucial to Sunderland’s season, after conceding he did not feel any of the club’s four forwards were ready to lead the line in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town.

The Black Cats signed four forwards in the summer – Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda and Luis Hemir – but just as Tony Mowbray was reluctant to give any of them an extended run in the first team, so Beale has quickly had to accept their limitations.

Three of the quartet were substitutes at Portman Road – Mayenda did not even make the matchday squad – with Rusyn and Burstow coming on for the final six minutes as Sunderland unsuccessfully chased an equaliser.

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Beale is desperate to bring in another forward this month, with Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore understood to be a leading target – but as things stand, Sunderland will be heading into Friday night’s crucial home game against Hull City with their head coach preferring to play a midfielder up front rather than a more natural number nine.

“It’s something we’re trying to add to,” said the Sunderland boss, who has now lost three of his six matches since replacing Tony Mowbray. “We have got four number nines in the building with a lack of experience in this league, both in age and number of games, so we’re working hard with them in the background. But in the meantime, we’ve got to make the right decisions for the team.

“We did play with a striker, we played with Jobe (Bellingham) there. He can play there, and he’s played there in games that we’ve won.

“We’ve got three young strikers who I think are adjusting to the league, I think it’s fair to say, and we’ve another guy that’s done well but I just felt the connection of the team was better with Pritch (Alex Pritchard) playing off Jobe. It’s a situation I’ve inherited and it’s something I’m working away with.”

Saturday’s defeat left Sunderland a place outside of the play-off positions, and means Rusyn’s goal in the New Year’s Day win over Preston remains the only successful strike from any of the club’s strikers this season.

“It’s a situation where I share some of the frustration with the fans, for sure,” continued Beale. “The team do as well because they’re looking for something up front that will help us. What I would say, if we find it, we’re in a good position in the league and we can kick on from there.”