The Sunderland manager had heard of Stokes' decision to sign for Premiership strugglers Charlton but there was no bitterness. In that text Keane wished Stokes all the best and told him if he ever needed any help or any advice, to let him know straight away. Regardless of what club he played for, he was still the next big thing in Irish soccer, a pressure Keane knew only too well.

Inadvertent, but it may have been those few words of encouragement that changed Stokes' mind, because at one stage last Saturday he confirmed he was set for a Euro2m switch to The Valley. Niall Quinn even got a phone call from one of the club's investors expressing his disappointment about not getting the 18-year-old on board.

The decision came after a hectic week. The first call was whether he would leave Arsenal at all. Arsene Wenger never once spoke to the striker but said at a press conference he was leaving it down to the player and he wouldn't try to tempt or push him in any direction. But on Thursday, Stokes met with Alan Pardew. On Friday it was Sunderland. On Saturday it was Gordon Strachan and as he walked across tarmacadam outside of Celtic Park, he informed friends and family of his decision.

Anthony Stokes would soon be a Premiership player.

"To be honest, I was a bit confused by it all. It is true that I thought I was going to Charlton. I had met with all the clubs and it was tough, because to be offered football at clubs of that size, it's difficult to turn any of them down. They all made a good case for having me on board but eventually my mind settled on staying in London. I don't know if it was the draw of the Premiership or what, but that's where I chose to go.

"But I spoke to Roy for a second time and he went over his plans for the club again. He told me he was in it for the long haul at Sunderland. At that stage, the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. Everyone knows about the support base and the plans for the club with Niall Quinn and now with Roy. He said he's really enjoying it and feels he's making progress and knows where he wants to go. But the way he wants to go about it is very impressive as well and it was something I wanted to be part of.

"Ever since then, it's been brilliant. I came up on Monday and met all the lads and they were all very supportive.

Obviously a lot of the guys are Irish and I'd have known them from international setups before. It was like that in Falkirk as well. When I was up there, I was with Patrick (Cregg) and Stephen (O'Donnell), players I'd have known for a long time. I actually lived in an apartment right beside them and that helped me settle really well and maybe contributed a little to my form up there. So hopefully I can do that here as well. But it feels good. It feels like I've made the right move and it's an exciting time."

Excitement. He probably has no idea just how much he's created as his arrival whipped up a frenzy in Sunderland these past few days.

In the lobby at the Stadium of Light there's a trophy presented to Quinn after his testimonial. Ireland beat Sunderland three-nil that day on the eve of Saipan but a card below declares hospices in Dublin and Sunderland the real winners, thanks to Quinn giving all of the proceeds to charity.

Across the marble floor there's an Irish cap belonging to Charlie Hurley from an international against Spain in the '60s. The Cork centrehalf was voted the club's Player of the Century in their centenary year of 1979. To date he remains their most capped international, winning 38 of his 40 Irish appearances while at Roker Park.

And now there's Stokes.

The latest Irish saviour in a town obsessed with football.

There's little else to do.

There's little else to talk about and in the pubs and restaurants overheard conversations speak of how he can bring them to the Premiership.

His father, John, admitted that he would never interfere but couldn't help feeling relieved when he didn't go to Charlton. There hid an immediate pressure to score goals and maintain the club's status in the top flight. But it's hard to imagine any expectation in London to match this. Nervous, Anthony?

"Me? Never. And I've no reason to be either. This is what I've always wanted to do and obviously people feel I'm good enough to do it as well. I take that as a compliment and now I want to prove these people right. I want to show that they've done the right thing in bringing me here. And I know I can do that.

"The last few months have given me huge confidence in my ability and it's something I want to keep going. Of course if I'm going to score goals, the Premiership is where I want to get them but it brings a lot of pressure.

I'm not saying that's not here, because the aim is to get promoted and if we are to do that, then now is an important part of the season. But it's a more positive situation than with Charlton who have to perform now to stay up.

But I'll just do my best and hopefully that will be good enough."

Keane is wary of such confidence though and has done his best to shield Stokes from the gathering ball of pressure. It's why over 20 requests for interviews with his new recruit were turned down during last week. It's why he whisked Stokes away after training as a crowd of waiting journalists honed in on their target.

And why wouldn't Keane be so protective? Stokes is only 18 and despite his record in the SPL where he netted 14 goals in the first half of this season, he is still learning.

He was three when Keane first pulled on an Irish senior jersey. He was five when Keane joined Manchester United from Nottingham Forest. He was six when Keane won his first Premiership. He was seven when Keane first captained his country. He was 10 when Keane was booked in a Champions League final, leaving the haunting memory of what should have been his finest triumph.

When casting his mind back on his playing career, Keane once said, "I can look back and think I'm just one of the luckiest people in the world."

Stokes can now look forward with similar sentiments.