Sunderland new boy Anthony Stokes is hoping to bring his blistering goalscoring form to the club's push for a Premiership return.

The 18-year-old plundered 16 goals in 18 games during his hugely successful loan spell at Falkirk, and after completing €3 million move to the Stadium of Light from Arsenal yesterday, is determined to produce more of the same.

Stokes said: "I had a great time at Falkirk, but I am just concentrating on Sunderland and doing well here for the next three or four years. I needed to stake a claim to play every week and hopefully I can do that at Sunderland.

"If somebody offers me another 16 goals between now and the end of the eason, I would take that any day of the week. I would be a happy man.

"I am confident we can mount a strong promotion challenge. I talked to Roy (Keane) about that as well and we are only three points off the play-offs. I am just glad the transfer stuff is all over and I can get on with playing football."

Dublin-born Stokes, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, became the first man to score back-to-back Scottish Premier League hat-tricks, when hit three against Dundee United and Dunfermline in October.

He broke into Arsenal's reserve team as a 15-year-old, but made only one competitive senior appearance, in the 3-0 Carling Cup third round victory at Sunderland last season.

However, his form at Falkirk alerted a series of suitors, and Keane had to battle to secure his services ahead of Celtic and Charlton.

Sunderland's Irish connections - chairman Niall Quinn headed the largely Irish Drumaville consortium's take-over on Wearside before appointing former international team-mate Keane as his manager - proved a major pull for the
newcomer.

Stokes told the club's official website, www.safc.com: "The fact that there are such strong Irish connections at Sunderland helped me make the decision. It is going to be easier to settle in. I know a few of the lads here already."