TONY MOWBRAY is hoping Ellis Simms’ toe injury is not a serious setback, but the Sunderland striker is likely to have a scan in the next 24 hours to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Simms injured his toe as he attempted to get a first-half shot away during the Black Cats’ 3-0 win at Reading, and while he initially tried to continue after a bout of treatment, he was forced to hobble from the field a few minutes later.

Sunderland excelled in his absence, with Patrick Roberts scoring twice and Jack Clarke adding another goal after the interval as they wrecked Reading’s previous 100 per cent home record.

However, with Ross Stewart facing at least another month on the sidelines, the Black Cats can ill afford to be without Simms for a prolonged period and Mowbray is hoping the Everton loanee’s prognosis proves positive.

“It’s not ideal,” said the Sunderland boss. “Ellis brings us a physicality and he’s key at defending set-pieces, as well.

“It's his big toe, on the joint. He was struggling to push off and it’s numb at the moment. Whether we scan that tomorrow or whether it settles down overnight, we'll have to wait and see.

“It’s the fact it was numb, I don’t think it's broken but we'll have to let it settle and then reassess it again.”

Simms’ absence did not prove too much of a handicap last night, with Roberts scoring two goals in the space of three first-half minutes shortly after his team-mate’s departure.

Mowbray challenged Roberts to step into the gap left by Stewart earlier this week, and the former Manchester City youngsters responded with his best display in a Sunderland shirt.

“I can’t teach Patrick Roberts to do what he does with that left foot,” said Mowbray. “I was a big centre-half who used to head it. He’s got a wand of a foot.

“Tosin Adarabioyo texted me when I got the job and said, ‘Patrick Roberts is magic’. He was a kid with him at Man City.

“I see it every day in training. Patrick is an amazing footballer, and I think he just needs encouraging to do what he does.

"Give him a licence to play and he’ll damage a lot of players in the league this year.”