After weeks of speculation, Hibs’ legend Anthony Stokes has finally agreed to join his old boss Neil Lennon at Easter Road.
He is expected to complete a medical today, ahead of signing a two year deal.
This will be the third spell at the club for the Dubliner who wrote his name into Hibs’ fokelore with a sensational performance in the 2016 Scottish Cup victory over Rangers at Hampden Park.
His two goals that day helped secure the trophy for the first time in 114 years, sparking wild celebration from the delighted supporters.
Stokes played for Kilnamanagh, Esker Celtic Football Club, Cherry Orchard Shelbourne youth teams, before signing for Arsenal where played for the reserves as a 15-year-old
He made his debut for the first team as a substitute in a League Cup tie against Sunderland.
John Hughes spotted his potential and brought him to Falkirk on loan where he scored 16 goals in 18 league and cup appearances and became the first player to score back to back hat-tricks n the SPL.
His performances did not go unnoticed and in January 2007 he joined Sunderland in a deal reported to be worth £2m.
Manager Roy Keane sent the striker on loan to Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before John Hughes signed him for Hibs for an undisclosed fee.
Stokes made his Hibs debut against his former club Falkirk, and then credited Hughes as the main reason he decided to sign for Hibs. He scored his first goals in a 3–0 win at home against St Johnstone . His good run of form was rewarded with the SPL Young Player of the Month award for December 2009. and winning the Goal of the Season award from the SPL for a goal against Rangers.
His partnership with Derek Riordan caused problems for most defences but in August 2010 he signed for Celtic, making his debut in a 3-0 win over Hearts.
Stokes quickly became a popular figure with the Celtic fans and subsequently won our league trophies, two Scottish Cups, including the 2013 trophy where he ws named man of the match for his performance against Hibs, and one League Cup.
On 15 January 2016, Alan Stubbs persuaded him to join Hibs on loan…………and the rest is history.
That summer he joined Blackburn Rovers but his spell in England has been blighted by injury and off field problems.
Last month he parted company with Rovers and speculation has been rife about a return to Easter Road.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
