Carlos Edwards has revealed he owes Sir Alex Ferguson a favour for recommending him to Sunderland boss Roy Keane.
Trinidad and Tobago international Edwards joined Sunderland earlier this month in a £1.5m switch from Luton Town.
The fact Edwards spoke to Sunderland's Dwight Yorke, who plays alongside him at international level, about the move before agreeing to sign is no secret - but Ferguson's role in the deal is less well known.
Before signing him, Keane spoke to Ferguson and the Manchester United chief had no hesitation in singing Edwards' praises.
Fergie knew all about Edwards after seeing him several times when the winger was a team-mate of his son Darren at Wrexham.
Edwards said: "I was amazed when I heard Sir Alex had recommended me to Roy Keane - it is very flattering.
"I played alongside his son Darren for five years at Wrexham and I knew he came to watch us a few times.
"I remember meeting him once when he came into the dressing room at the end of a match.
"For someone like Sir Alex to speak to the gaffer and tell him good things about me is just fantastic."
Edwards moved from Wrexham to Luton in the summer of 2005 and enjoyed his time at Kenilworth Road - but admits he was looking to move his career forward and jumped at the chance to move to Sunderland.
He added: "I am not the type to be linked with a lot of clubs and then be asking for a move.
"I just concentrated on my football and when the chance came to join a big club like Sunderland I knew it was right for me."
Edwards made his Black Cats debut in the FA Cup defeat at Preston and then made his first start, and home debut, in the win against Ipswich last weekend.
The Wearsiders are only a point outside the play-off places and go to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend looking to increase the pressure on the clubs above them.
Edwards said: "There are going to be more than 6,000 Sunderland fans there. We will all be doing our best to give them something to smile about."
Keane refused to comment today on reports linking him with Plymouth centre-half Tony Capaldi, Colchester stopper Greg Halford and Man United's Alan Smith.
He was also tight-lipped on claims Birmingham City are interested in signing Republic of Ireland striker Stephen Elliott.