MARCUS Stewart last night revealed his belief that Sunderland's new £10m striker partnership can prove to be a big hit with the Stadium of Light faithful.

Stewart, a £1.8m buy from Ipswich, and Tore Andre Flo, signed for £8.2m from Rangers, fired a blank in their first match together at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. But the former Portman Road favourite is determined to hit the goal trail as quickly as possible in a bid to prove he can establish himself as part of the Sunderland front-line.

With the Black Cats' leading post-war goalscorer Kevin Phillips ruled out with a hernia problem for up to six weeks, more pressure has been placed on the new strike duo to gel quickly. And Stewart said: "I don't know how long it will take to get a relationship going with Tore Andre Flo, but we have to do it as soon as possible, simple as that.

"Of course it's something I'm confident we can get right, we've been brought in to score goals, that's our jobs, that's what we get paid for and that's what I thrive on.

"Every player has to play for their place and I'm the same. While I'm in the team and Kevin is injured, I'm playing for my place in the team, simple as that. I don't worry about anyone else."

But the 29-year-old, hoping to keep his place for tomorrow's clash with Fulham at the Stadium of Light, admits he has to make the most of his chance.

And if he can score against the Cottagers, Stewart believes that will ensure he is warming up nicely for the derby with arch-rivals Newcastle seven days later.

"I haven't got six weeks to win a place in the team, I can't do it in five games' time," he said. "I have to do it in the next match if I'm selected for.

"My target is to score one goal in every two games, that's my aim at every club. I have been brought here to score goals and if I don't I'm not doing my job.

"My target obviously now is to score against Fulham, that is my target. I've done that all through my career.

"It would be nice to get a win against Fulham, we want to win every game. It would be nice to be involved because it would be my first home game..

"We need to win the Fulham game because we have a massive one the week after against Newcastle. I don't feel the pressure. I've come in, but I'm quite laid back in my approach to things so I'm quite optimistic about things. I have belief in my own ability."

Sunderland came under fire from manager Peter Reid, after the 3-0 defeat to Boro, for failing to cause the Teessiders' backline problems. But Stewart insists goal-scoring opportunities will soon be on their way and he will be waiting to pounce. "I know the chances will be created during my time here, we have the players to do it," he said.

"Middlesbrough had a very good back four. The three centre-halves were very well organised.

"Boro have a good basis - but so do we if we can work on that, maybe get an early goal and get a foothold in the game, then we can go onto win games comfortably.

"But we haven't got time and we have to do it in the next match. This team will create chances and hopefully I will be on the end of them."

* Sunderland were last night reported to be interested in Norway Under-17 striker Jonas Johansen, who plays for Tromso.

Read more about Sunderland here.