Quinn and Keane raise the Stokes

With the capture of striker Anthony Stokes Sunderland have signed one of the brightest prospects in Britain. But the move signifies more than just a promising new addition to the squad.

With the £2.2m capture of striker Anthony Stokes Sunderland have signed one of the brightest prospects in Britain. But the move signifies more than just a promising new addition to the squad.

For after competing with Premiership side Charlton and SPL Champions Celtic for the youngster’s signature, and coming up trumps after protracted negotiations, Roy Keane, Niall Quinn and Drumaville have given their clearest sign of ambitious intent yet since joining the club.

Stokes is a powerful, pacey and two-footed striker who scored a phenomenal 16 goals in 18 games while on loan at SPL side Falkirk. Those clambering for the much sought after David Nugent will be cheered to learn that Stokes is a striker in very much the same mould, with a few more years on his side. Those comparing him to Wayne Rooney may well be very high on life however.

But whether we’ve signed the next Wayne Rooney or Mickey Rooney, and there’s no doubting the fans will be hoping for the former, the fact is that even if Stokes turns out to be a £2.2m flop, Sunderland fans can take great heart from the signs emerging from this deal that proves what we’ve thought all along since Quinny saved us last July, that we’re in very good hands.

Financially, Sunderland have had no problem paying the fee, and offering top wages to attract the 18-year old. This of course, is what we were promised when Lord Niall of Disco Pantsdome arrived with a ‘good hand’, and we never had any reason to doubt him. The only sales made at Sunderland since his arrival have been purely because the manager did not see those players in his future plans, and not because of any fund raising requirements.

However it is the club’s future plans and ambitions that have really turned Stokes’ head, with Champions League and Premiership football still not enough to entice Stokes away from what must sound like an attractive proposition on Wearside in the years to come.

Gordon Strachan and many in the Scottish media are bitter.

‘I have other players to go for. There are a lot of players wanting to come to Celtic and play in the Champions League, win championships and play in front of 60,000 people,’

If you’re not careful Gordon, you’ll stink of mouldy grapes for the rest of the season. But Sour Gordan raises a pertinent point nonetheless. Read his quote again, and realise that it really is an attractive offer that Stokes, a boyhood Celtic fan, has turned down to join Sunderland.

The Scottish press insist he’s gone for the money. That in itself, that Sunderland can compete and beat Celtic financially, is impressive.

But the fact is, that’s not the truth, and the pro-Celtic media could do well to realise that it is a potential future Hoops manager currently in charge on Wearside who is the main factor in this move.

Strachan and Pardew might well be charismatic media-friendly managers, in charge of goods clubs at a top level, but they’re no Keano.

When Quinn announced that he was bringing in a ‘world class’ man to run his fledgling project, many scoffed at the announcement that this man was the formerly temperamental and unpredictable Roy Keane.

This signing is the first major sign that Quinn, Keane and most importantly, us, the long suffering fans, may have the last laugh.

All the best Stokes and here’s hoping that you’ll be a massive success. But if not, Keane and Quinn’s plans and ambitions will not be deterred, as they’ll plot the next signing from under the noses of Champions League giants.