Hibs: Stokes goals can spur Phil, says Murray

HIBS captain Ian Murray has urged Phil Airey to follow the example of Anthony Stokes and capitalise on his loan spell in Scotland.

Murray said Airey need look no further than former Easter Road striker Stokes for inspiration as he looks to showcase his goalscoring talents following a move from Newcastle United.

The Hibees skipper added, however, that Airey, 19, would have a tough act to follow in Stokes, who hit 14 goals in 16 SPL games - including three hat-tricks - while on loan at Falkirk from Sunderland five years ago, subsequently winning moves to Hibs and then Celtic.

"If he's been banging them in for Newcastle reserves, he'll be looking to make an impression, like Anthony Stokes did," said Murray. "He can score a few goals and if he can get as many goals as Stokesy did for Falkirk, we'll bite their arm off."

"It's unlikely that will happen, but he'll hopefully settle quickly and get some important goals for us."

With Junior Agogo and Akpo Sodje close to a return from injury and Garry O'Connor back at Easter Road, Airey will have plenty of competition for a place in the Hibs forward line, but Murray believes such an array of attacking talent can only be good for the club.

"We need another one up front, I thought, just so you can rotate and mix and match," said Murray, 30. "Not everyone can play, but that's healthy as well."

Airey, the Newcastle-born teenager, is delighted with his move north and is keen to test himself at senior level having proven his talent at under-19 and English Premier League reserve level.

"I'm really pleased to be joining such a big club like Hibs and I will be looking to challenge for a first-team place," said Airey.

"I love it at Newcastle but I'm now getting to an age where I need to get first-team games under my belt and hopefully I will achieve that with Hibs."