Anthony Stokes senses opportunity to fill boots with Celtic

ANTHONY Stokes believes he is ready to cope with the pressure of leading the line for Celtic in their bid to reclaim the SPL title this season and insists goals will be easier to come by as an Old Firm player than they were at Hibs.

• New Celtic signing Anthony Stokes was a picture of contentment after completing his 1.2million move from Hibs. The Irishman thanked the Edinburgh club for sanctioning his switch along the M8. Picture: SNS

The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international striker completed his transfer deadline day move from Easter Road with Celtic agreeing a 1.2 million deal for the player who became manager Neil Lennon's 11th summer signing.

Stokes has an impressive SPL strike rate, netting a total of 35 goals in 53 appearances in Scotland's top flight for Falkirk in 2006-07 and then Hibs last season either side of an unhappy two-year spell at Sunderland. While he accepts the scrutiny placed on him will be far more intense at Celtic, he is confident his job will be more straightforward with his new employers.

"I don't know if I'm being naive about it, but that's the way I'm looking at it," said Stokes. "Obviously, there are greater expectations at Celtic. You are expected to win every game, anything less isn't acceptable. But if I'm getting myself into the box as a striker, the ball is coming into it more often at Celtic so I'll get more chances.

"People say it's a bigger club I'm with now, which of course it is, but I don't agree that it also means it is harder to score goals. With the amount of chances Celtic create in games, it should be easier. I think the pressure is the big aspect but, for me, it's about getting into the team and scoring as many goals as possible. Last season at Hibs, that's what I did well."

As Stokes departed, Hibs followed up the loan signing of striker Darryl Duffy from Bristol Rovers by securing 27-year-old Ghanaian international defender Francis Dickoh on a free transfer from Celtic's Europa League conquerors Utrecht. The loss of Stokes is undoubtedly a blow for Hibs, however, and he expressed his gratitude to manager John Hughes and chairman Rod Petrie for allowing him to join the club closest to his heart.

"I saw the manager quoted in the papers on Sunday as saying he'd chop my balls off if I moved," said Stokes. "I couldn't believe he said that in the paper, but to be fair he's said that to me a few times since I first played for him at Falkirk.

"Seriously, I have a great relationship with him and he means the world to me. He gave me another chance in my career by taking me to Hibs last year after the move to Sunderland didn't work out. Hopefully I repaid him with the goals I scored. But he knew I wanted this move to happen, he understood my feelings for Celtic, so he didn't try to stop me. Given the chairman's reputation for playing hardball when it comes to transfers, I was worried over the weekend whether the move would go through.

"But I had a proper good chat with Mr Petrie and the things he said to me were really appreciated. I leave on good terms with everyone, especially the gaffer because he did a lot for me." Stokes, who will wear the number 10 jersey vacated by Marc-Antoine Fortune's 2.5 million move to West Bromwich Albion last week, experienced a mixture of joy and relief yesterday at finally signing for the club he turned down three years ago to join Sunderland instead. "There were times when I thought I should have gone to Celtic back then, especially when I wasn't getting a game for Sunderland," he added.

"I'm glad I've got this second chance at Celtic and maybe it's best the way things have worked