THERE are sure, despite adverse publicity that he invariably seems to attract wherever he goes, to be no shortage of suitors for the signature of Anthony Stokes this summer.
Clubs who play at a higher level than Hibernian and can offer far greater wages than the Easter Road club are certain to be eyeing Stokes, who has just parted company with Blackburn Rovers after an unhappy spell at Ewood Park, covetously.
Nevertheless, Neil Lennon, the Hibs manager who has tabled a “very good offer” for the occasionally errant but often prolific striker, is still hopeful he has a realistic chance of luring him back to the capital.
The 28-year-old, who scored just three goals in 12 first team appearances last season, has successfully resurrected his career in Leith on two occasions in the past and Lennon believes the offer of a chance to do so a third time may prove attractive to the forward.
“If I was Anthony, I would be coming here,” said Lennon, as he looked ahead to this evening’s Betfred Cup match against Arbroath at Easter Road. “He knows he’s a hero after the Scottish Cup final, he knows the management team and the majority of the players and he knows we can get the best out of him.
“At this juncture of his career, I think he needs to play, and play for a club that wants him here and for a manager who knows him inside out and can deal with all his little issues - because we’ve all had them!”
Lennon is currently facing a major problem himself. Who is going to fill the considerable void left by Jason Cummings, his leading scorer last season, in the months ahead? He admitted that landing Stokes would help his team hugely on their return to the Ladbrokes Premiership.
“They’re always at a premium those types of players,” he said. “We’ve lost Jason, so we’re looking to replace that volume of goals.
“Anthony’s experienced and he has won a lot of trophies in Scotland, obviously with Hibs as well as Celtic. He had a great time when he was younger at Falkirk, a fantastic couple of seasons there. So, the environment suits him and gets the best out of him.
“He’s played in big games for Celtic, whether that be European games or Old Firm games, and he’s still got plenty in him.”
There are many who feel that Stokes will never fulfil the potential which he showed when he sprang to prominence at Falkirk 11 years ago. He has had numerous opportunities to prove himself at a high level, both in England and Scotland, and has invariably squandered them.
Lennon, though, feels that the forward, who has won nine caps for his country, has a great deal left to offer and can even force his way back into the Republic of Ireland set-up by joining Hibs and performing well in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
“I still think he can reach his peak,” he said. “He’s a very talented player and he scored a lot of very important goals for me over the four years I was at Celtic. And he contributed to a lot of goals as well.
“If you look at his performance in the cup final, and I appreciate that is 14 months ago now, it shows he’s a big-game player. He likes the big games. They really floats his boat.
“Coming here, there would be plenty of big games to get his teeth in to. Whether he would get that pressurised situation going somewhere else, I don’t know.
“He’s happy here. At this juncture of his career, he needs to get back to playing. He’s well out of the Republic of Ireland fold now. He’s not played enough football to even get himself a mention for that. Possibly he could come again for that, but he needs to find the right environment.”
Lennon is also optimistic that Kris Commons, another of his former Celtic players, will rejoin Hibs when he recovers from back surgery.
The 33-year-old, who spent a successful spell on loan at Easter Road last season, is a free agent, but has not decided whether he is going to play on or retire. His former manager, though, is confident he will choose to continue playing when he regains full fitness.
“I think he’s a brilliant player when he’s fit,” he said. “He can make the difference. He still has plenty to offer. I think he should be fresh.
“But it all depends on his recovery from surgery. We expect it to be at least another couple of months until he is fully fit.
“He will be rehabing closer to home. Then when he is ready to come through here then the option is there if he wants. I would like him here if he proves his fitness. I’ve told Kris that.”
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