Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Keane backing for Stokes

03 Dec 2007 - 16:09:11

Click To Enlarge

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has warned matchwinner Anthony Stokes that he needs to continue producing the goods if he is to prove to be a success with the Black Cats.

The 19-year-old has struggled to make his mark during almost a year with the Wearsiders, but came on as a substitute at the weekend to score a dramatic winner against Derby County.

Keane told the Sunderland Gazette: "We brought Anthony on as a sub, although when you bring him on you never know what you're going to get, it can be good, it can be bad, but against Derby it turned out to be good.

"He does things in training that very few people can, but there's a lot of people out there who do things in training that they don't take out on to the pitch.

"We're delighted with him, though, because he's still learning. He's just a young man and you can't expect him to be our saviour, but he has played a part since he arrived.

"The frustration for a lot of young players is consistency, but the goal will do him the world of good.

"He could be a top, top player or end up in non-league football in four or five years time and it's up to me to make sure he goes the right way."