Stokes: I would love to partner Griffiths

Having scored twice for Hibernian against Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final, Anthony Stokes will be feeling on top of the world, but despite becoming a hero at Hampden Park, the striker has admitted that he wants to return to Celtic next season to form a strike partnership with Leigh Griffiths.

The Republic of Ireland international was loaned to Hibs in January after falling out with previous manager Ronny Deila, but with the Norwegian out and Brendan Rodgers in, he has his eyes set on getting back into the Celtic side, where he thinks he and Griffiths could form a deadly duo.

As reported by the Evening Times, he said:

I have said since day one that I wanted to go back. I would love to play with Griff. The first season that Leigh and I played together we scored a barrowload. He came in for five or six months and he is someone that I really respect as a footballer.

He is one of the best finishers that I have ever played with and I think we have showed already that we can link up well when we are out there together. He scored 40 goals this season – we could do a fair bit of damage with two of us up there.

Stokes’s difficult time under Deila does not seem to have dented his confidence or self-belief. The 27-year-old also spoke about the requirements that need to be met by any Celtic striker and he believes that he is more than capable of meeting them.

I think over two or three seasons if I am playing regularly then I will score 20 or above. If you are a striker at Celtic then that is the standard that you should be at and if you are going to play regularly up front for Celtic then you have to score at least 20 goals over the course of the season and I would always fancy myself to do that.

Celtic will officially unveil Brendan Rodgers later today at Paradise with thousands expected to turn out for his first press conference as the Hoops manager.