STEPHEN ELLIOTT'S young career could have been hard to bear right now. Had he stayed at Manchester City there would be a period of wondering what the future holds following the departure of Kevin Keegan.

Battling away in the reserves and trying to force his way into the City first team would not have taught the gifted young striker much that he didn't alreday know: Cue the reason behind last summer's move to Sunderland.

A choice of either Celtic or the Black Cats was laid in front of him and those on Wearside have been left to hail one of the brightest prospects outside the Premiership after Elliott chose to wear the red and white.

Things could not have gone much better for Elliott at Sunderland, where his goals have been a pivotal factor in the club's rise to an automatic promotion place, and there is more than a distinct possibility that the slight frame of a forward could make a quick return to the top-flight.

And call it the Luck of the Irish or just a tactical masterstroke from manager Mick McCarthy, Elliott's stock reached new levels on Saturday when he struck the decisive winning goal at Crewe Alexandra less than four minutes after being introduced.

It was his 14th of the season, in his maiden campaign as a first team regular, and Elliott certainly would not change things. He refuses to even consider the 'what ifs' and 'might have beens' had Keegan left City before him.

Instead, the Republic of Ireland international only has thoughts focused on making an immediate return to the Premiership, where he only made two substitute appearances under the former Newcastle boss.

"It was a risk for me to move away but I'm delighted that I did when I look back. Last season I was playing in the reserves at City and I wouldn't swap this for that," said Elliott, looking every bit a bargain even if the £125,000 fee decided by a tribunal does eventually rise to the £375,000 maximum.

"I'm delighted with how things are going here now and I don't like to look back too much on what's gone on before.

"I might not have had much of a chance but I just thought it would be best for my career if I got out of there and it's working out that way.

"I got on alright with everyone there, I just felt it was the move for me to make. I wanted to just get a chance of first team football and fortunately I'm getting that here. Hopefully, things will keep going that way."

Elliott's contribution at Gresty Road cannot be underestimated. In his 36 minutes on the pitch he installed a cutting edge and drive to a Sunderland forward line that was not enjoying the best of days until his introduction.

Added to that his strike, which has put him level with Marcus Stewart as the club's top-scorer, narrowly ensured that they retained their grip on second spot with both Wigan and Ipswich cruising to comfortable wins.

Sunderland may not have played particularly well at struggling Crewe yet they have managed to claim maximum points ahead of two vital home games against Plymouth, tomorrow night, and Coventry on Saturday.

Elliott started and finished the move that resulted in Sunderland scoring. He delivered the perfect through ball to Julio Arca on the left wing.

Arca, literally seconds after coming on himself for Sean Thornton, cut inside his marker before his shot across the face of the goal rebounded off the foot of the post and Elliott showed his predatory instincts by firing high into the net.

It was exactly what was required because neither side had looked capable of finding the crucial breakthrough - particularly Crewe who have still not won a game since the turn of the year; a 12-game run that has coincided with the departure of leading striker Dean Ashton to Norwich.

Home goalkeeper Ben Williams was rarely troubled except for pretty harmless efforts from Stewart, Carl Robinson and George McCartney.

But neither was Thomas Myhre, well guarded by a solid defence that had McCartney leading by example on the left, and that was why Sunderland had the platform to nick an invaluable victory.

Elliott did have the ball in the net a second time but his cool finish two minutes from the whistle did not count because the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

Nevertheless Sunderland, despite a late surge from Crewe, held on to earn their fifth win in six games and hopes remain high in the camp that three teams from the North-East will be playing Premiership football again come August.

"Everyone wants to get back into the Premiership and I'm just like those others. We are just focused on trying to keep winning and make sure we get there," said Elliott.

"Here we have a fantastic squad and I think it's the best outside the Premier League.

"We are just concentrating on getting automatic promotion. It's in our own hands and we are determined to stay in the top two.

"It's going to be very close because the other two are good sides and it could go right to the end."

Result: Crewe Alexandra 0, Sunderland 1.

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