WHEN Tam Scobbie, with a smile, describes Anthony Stokes as “a rocket - but in a good way” it is not difficult to deduce what he means. The pair will be reunited at Tynecastle this afternoon, nine years after sharing a dressing room at Falkirk during the early stages of their careers. This time they will be in opposite ends for the first League Cup semi-final, with Scobbie now a St Johnstone player and Stokes a recent temporary addition to the Hibernian ranks.
Stokes has experienced what could be euphemistically described as a “colourful career”, his on-field progression regularly derailed by off-field incidents that have ranged from the hair-brained to the occasionally ill-advised. It partially explains why he is playing in the first semi-final this weekend, rather than in the second for Celtic against Ross County tomorrow.
There have been darker elements to some of Stokes’ alleged misdemeanours but Scobbie recalls a jovial figure who made the Falkirk dressing room a fun place to be during his short but memorable time on loan from Arsenal.
“Stokesy was great when he came up to Falkirk,” said the defender. “He was a young lad like myself and he just wanted the opportunity to play. He was fantastic for us, a bit of a rocket but in a good way. He would just do stupid things.
"It was just pranks. He was always a guy who was up to a bit of mischief, whether that was cutting a pair of boxers or trying to nail shoes to the floor. Stokesy was infectious. People liked to be around him because he was a joker and was always looking for a laugh.
"He was like that from the minute he came in to the minute he left. The boys loved it and so did Yogi [manager John Hughes]. At that time, he was banging in hat-tricks left, right and centre. He was a great signing and we did really well.
“Stokesy went on to do extremely well with his career in England and then Celtic. He’s a good lad, I get on well with him, and he will be keen to do well at Hibs now. You need guys like him in dressing rooms who are lively and know when it's okay to have a laugh. We also have a few boys who like to play pranks and take the p**s. I'm not naming names though. If I do that, my gear will be gone.
"You need to have a laugh. It happens every day and this week was the same. In the hotel, pranks were getting played. It takes a bit of pressure off and allows people to handle the expectation.”
Scobbie has motivation of his own ahead of today’s tie. He and Murray Davidson were both sidelined through injury when St Johnstone won the Scottish Cup two years ago and don’t want to miss out on a second final appearance.
“There are a few of us in the squad who didn’t play in that final and missed out,” he added. “Myself and Murray were unfortunate to miss out through injury and not play a part. It was a real shame. But we did celebrate with the boys and we did feel a part of it. We felt like we had been involved. You also have new players who want to play in finals and who want to win cups. We want to add another cup to the CV but it will be tough against Hibs.”
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