HAVING played alongside Anthony Stokes at Hibs before, Lewis Stevenson thought it was a something of a coup when he learned the Easter Road club had brought in the striker on loan until the end of the season.
Yet, it was only driven home to Stevenson just how good an acquisition it was when Celtic supporters told him they believed the Republic of Ireland internationalist should still be playing for them.
To say Stokes has fallen out of favour at Parkhead under Ronny Deila during the 2015/16 campaign is an understatement. The 27-year-old last played a first team game way back in August and was ordered to stay away from training following an ill-advised Twitter outburst last month.
Many fans of the Scottish champions, though, believe the he merited more of a chance. Leigh Griffiths is obviously on fire. But Carlton Cole is still working his way back to full fitness while Nadir Ciftci has only shown glimpses of what he is capable of since arriving last summer.
Stevenson, who watched Stokes score 24 goals for Hibs back in the 2009/10 season, is hopeful that his old team mate can highlight that Celtic fans were correct to want him back involved.
“I’m sure he’s going to be a great signing for us,” said Stevenson yesterday as he helped to promote The Famous Five documentary which will be shown on BBC Alba on Sunday evening.
"Obviously, the last time he was here he was brilliant. His record was amazing. If he can keep that going until the end of the season I am sure he will make a massive difference.
“He has got a bit of everything for a striker. He can score goals, but he can make them as well. I can remember playing against him when he was with Celtic and the way he linked up with other players was impressive. He was hard to play against. I am sure if he has done it in the top league he can do it in this league as well.
“I have spoken to a few Celtic fans and they think he is good enough to play for them. To get him is a great signing and shows the ambition of the club.
"I have seen some stats since he has been in Scotland and he is probably as good as any striker. To have him at Hibs is amazing. Hopefully he can give us a wee boost until the end of the season.”
Hibs, who had drawn level with Rangers on points at the top of the Championship after going on a 17 game unbeaten run in all competitions, have fallen five points behind their Ibrox rivals in the last few weeks.
Stevenson, who was helpless to prevent his side losing 4-2 to Rangers at the end of last month and drawing 1-1 with Falkirk on Sunday, believes the arrival of Stokes and the potential signing of Kevin Thomson will give them a lift.
“Our fans have been decent recently,” the left back said. “But we have had a couple of draws and a defeat against Rangers and that has kind of slowed us down a bit.
"He can be the catalyst to keep us going until the end of the season. He is going to want to prove that he is good enough and still the player he was when he was banging them in for Celtic.”
Stokes, whose trial for allegedly assaulting an Elvis impersonator was adjourned for 10 months in Dublin yesterday, has found himself featuring as much on the front pages as the back pages of tabloid newspapers throughout his career.
Stevenson has no concerns about his ability to fit in with the Hibs squad having played with him in the past. “He is a good guy,” he said. “There is a lot of off-field stuff that people see as well, but in the changing room he is really good. He will be a boost for us in the changing room as well as on the field."
Jason Cummings, the Scotland Under-21 internationalist, has been in outstanding form for Hibs up front this season and took his personal tally to 17 with the equaliser against Falkirk at Westfield at the weekend.
Stevenson believes he will be able to play alongside Stokes and will improve as a player as a result. "Jason will learn a lot from Stokesy coming in,” he said. “There are five or six strikers who can step up and play and none of them are rubber stamped. They can all play in a variety of positions and we sometimes change things up. Either way whoever plays with Stokesy it will work.”
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