Hibs' Stokes faces ban for start of new season

HIBS striker Anthony Stokes is facing a possible two-match ban that would rule him out at the start of next season.

The Irish striker was set to appear in front of the SFA disciplinary committee today to face a trial by TV over a late challenge he made on Landry N'Guemo last month.

Stokes' tackle on the player in the 3-2 defeat at Parkhead was described by Celtic caretaker boss Neil Lennon as 'a shocker' at the time and the incident was later referred to the video review panel.

If the panel decide the 21-year-old was guilty of a reckless or dangerous challenge, he could receive a red card and one-match ban which would come into effect at the start of the 2010/11 campaign. As he is currently sitting on nine disciplinary points, any further punishment would automatically result in Stokes having to sit out the second game of the new season.

Meanwhile, Sol Bamba has insisted that he may still be plying his trade at Easter Road next season, even if he is a huge hit at the World Cup.

The Hibs defender, who was yesterday named in Sven Goran Eriksson's provisional 33-man squad for South Africa, has reportedly been attracting interest from Fulham, Monaco and Rennes.

However, the player still has a year to run on his Hibs contract and said of the speculation: "While it is flattering, it's all just talk. I have still got a year left on my contract at Hibs and I'm very happy with my situation.

"I want to go to the World Cup and then only after that will I sit down with my family and the club and decide what my future is. Going to the World Cup would be a real dream come true for me. When I was a little boy I would chase a ball about the streets pretending I was scoring the winning goal at the World Cup final.

It's getting close now and I am excited."