ANTHONY STOKES has spoken of his eagerness to sign a new contract at Celtic as his deal at the club runs out of the end of the season.
The 25-year-old Irishman was hugely influential in Celtic's 3-1 victory over Hearts on Saturday with Neil Lennon, his manager, stating that the striker has played his way into contention for a starting place against AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday evening in Group H of the Champions League.
Stokes is in his final year of a contract at Celtic, with the club exercising an option it held over the former Falkirk, Sunderland and Hibernian striker. "My agent spoke to the club a couple of months ago and I'm obviously eager to try to get it signed but there's not much I can do. I'm waiting to hear back from my agent and I'll take it from there," said the forward, who scored one goal and played a part in both others in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon. "I would like to get it sorted, because I've only got seven or eight months left on my contract."
He was philosophical about the negotiations, saying: "It's out of my hands and I'll just keep playing my football and see what happens. My agent spoke to them when I turned down the first contract but we're just waiting for the club to come back. I want to stay but there's not really been much more talk since the last contract, so I don't know."
Asked if his performance at Tynecastle would lead to a new offer, he said: "I hope so but you can just never tell."
However, Lennon spoke after the match of his determination to keep the forward, who was dogged by injury and controversy last season. Stokes has been outstanding this term and has taken on the burden of replacing Gary Hooper, signed by Norwich City for £5m, until reinforcements arrived in the shape of Finnish internationalist Teemu Pukki, the £3m signing from Schalke.
Asked if he felt the responsibility of compensating for the loss of Hooper, Stokes replied: "No, not really. I'm just playing my normal game and enjoying my football. It took me a while to come back from the injury last year but I'm playing with no problems and no niggles.
"For any striker, to be in the team and scoring goals breeds confidence. I'm delighted with my form. Since I've come back from pre-season I've felt fit and I just want to maintain it now."
Of his future, he said: "I've always felt comfortable and enjoyed being here. On days like Saturday you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I've always enjoyed it, but this year has just started well, I suppose."
Lennon, meanwhile, said Adam Matthews, who was substituted after sustaining an ankle injury, will be fit to travel to Milan, with the Celtic manager also optimistic of winger James Forrest, who is suffering from sciatica, making the trip.
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