It was fitting Stephen Elliott should enter the post-match press conference clutching two bottles of Champagne given his sparkling performance on the pitch.

It's just a shame the tee-total 20-year-old striker will be not be able to enjoy them.

The Dubliner did reveal the bubbly would not be wasted, however, because he has earmarked a slot for them on his mantelpiece as ornaments.

Mick McCarthy and chairman Bob Murray returned from a tribunal last week to learn Sunderland will have to cough up somewhere in the region of £250,000 for the services of their new striker. But after Saturday's two-goal haul it looks as if it will be money well spent.

The ruling concluded a £125,000 fee had to paid up front; £20,000 on every ten games up to 50 appearances; £100,000 on promotion; £50,000 international debut and a 25 per cent sell on clause.

Elliott says the ruling was out of his hands but revealed he intends to pay back McCarthy's faith in him by scoring goals even though he has set no targets for the current campaign.

He said: "At the start of the season my main aim was to get in the team and get as many games as possible under my belt. Now my aim is to stay in the team and hopefully keep on scoring.

"I don't set targets I just take every match as it comes and if I score I score. As a striker you know you're going to get chances and if you put them away that's a bonus.

"Obviously when you've scored two goals you're always thinking it would be great to get another but it wasn't to be, but I'd be happy to take two every week.

"We've took nine points from our last three games, convincingly as well, which helps.

"I've really settled in at the club and all the lads have been great helping me with that and I'm really enjoying myself."

Since Kevin Kyle's hip injury is likely to keep him out until the new year Elliott is determined to make the most of the Scot's absence and forge a lethal partnership with Marcus Stewart - the pair have hit six goals between them in the last three games.

"Marcus and I have done well together the last few games," he said. "Our movement has been good together and we know what each other is going to do next."

As for the future Elliott has set his sights on winning a call up to full Republic of Ireland squad: "Obviously I'd love to play for Ireland's senior team but at the moment I'm happy in the under 21 side and if I'm scoring regularly for the under 21's you never know what'll happen.''

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