Sunderland boss Roy Keane has sent Anthony Stokes on-loan to Sheffield United without any expectations.
He said: "Anthony needs a run. I spoke with him before he went with Ireland B squad and put it to him and he wanted to think about it. Then he got in senior Ireland squad and we had a chat again yesterday.
"Stokesy is a good lad. If someone comes in for any of my players, the bottom line is that the player decides and on Thursday and he said he fancied it. As I have said before he is a talented boy and in defence of the lad, he has only really had cameo roles for me playing out on the right or left and his best position is through the middle but he has not been able to play there yet.
"He's still a young boy though, and hopefully he will get a run of games through the middle with Sheffield United if he trains hard. I don't get involved in any deals with clubs. I think the player has to go down there and work his socks off like anyone else then, it's up to the manager what he does with him.
"I don't think we're in a position to say, 'if he's going down there, he has to play' The manager might look at him and say, 'Well he's been here for training, but his attitude has stunk'. That's none of my business. Stokesy has to go down there with the attitude that he has to work his socks off."