IRELAND STRIKER ANTHONY Stokes has re-joined Scottish Championship side Hibernian on loan until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old has played just 106 minutes of first-team football for Celtic this season and will drop down a league to link up with boss Alan Stubbs at Easter Road.
Stokes had been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this season, the most notable incident being a Twitter outburst that earned him a two-week suspension last month.
Stubbs was delighted to secure the deal after seeing off competition from a number of top-tier Scottish clubs, including Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
“Anthony is a fantastic footballer and will really strengthen the squad,” he told the club’s website.
“We have a number of options in attack and real competition for places which is what every manager wants.
“We are excited about Anthony coming here and I think he will prove to be a real asset.”
Stokes joined Celtic from Hibernian in 2010 and scored 24 goals in 47 appearances during his last spell at Easter Road.
Hibernian are third in the Scottish second tier on 45 points, five behind leaders Rangers and they only trail Falkirk on goal difference.
The club will be hoping that Stokes plays a key role in their bid to earn promotion to the top division this season.
Stokes, who has nine international caps, will also be hoping to play himself into Martin O’Neill’s plans before he selects his squad for the European Championships in France later this year.
This tour could seriously be a laughing stock
First big game.
That could well be the backline for the first test. Need to show some sort of attacking gameplan.
THE best club side in the world.
@Barry Dunne: Baz you agreed with me! You feeling OK?
Well considering we already lost to The Blues. The lowest ranked team in New Zealand. I don’t hold out much hope that we can be their highest ranked team. Crusaders have some serious players including 13 All Blacks, 10 from this Tour panel.
“We had a WhatsApp message telling us to prepare for kicking”
Hah.
Sounds like their research into the lions involved turning on tv to watch the blues game and one of the squad commenting on how much the lions kick. No more homework required.
I Just love the contempt New Zealand teams hold for everyone else. They know if they play to their strengths they’ll win.
I think Lions will win this one. False dawn, probably……
Funny thing about super rugby is how a team dominates the opening stages but when the knockout stages come they choke. They’re the best for now. We’re pretty screwed though lol