Neil Lennon has told Anthony Stokes that he is his first choice striker.
Stokes bagged 20 goals in his first season at Celtic but started just one out of seven matches against Rangers and was a substitute in the Scottish Cup Final win over Motherwell.
Last Sunday away to Hibs he opened the scoring with Lennon confident that there’s much more to come from the Gary Hooper-Stokes partnership.
“Anthony came in last year and did exactly what we brought him to do- to score goals,” the Celtic boss said. “And there’s more to come from him. He did have a very good relationship with Gary and at the moment those two are the first choices.
“Last season he did very well for us but obviously we’re looking for more from him this season in terms of his goals and his all round performances, he knows that.
“He had a few problems disciplinary wise, he knows that as well and we’re seeing now a different trait in him, we’re hoping to see more consistency this season.”
At the end of last season Stokes pulled out of the Ireland international squad and was on the receiving end of some very public criticism from Giovanni Trapattoni.
Confusion over the reasons for his non-appearance have cast a significant shadow over the strikers future international prospects with Lennon offering to act as peacemaker.
The Celtic boss added: “He certainly has the talent but whether he can persuade Mr Trappatoni is another thing.
“In terms of clarifying the situation at the end of last season he said he was fatigued and I think that there were a few personal issues to attend to with his family- whether he made that clear to the Irish camp I don’t know.
“I think that he needs to have some sort of communication with the powers that be to get himself back into the international set up.
“He has the potential to be a very good player for the Republic of Ireland, if need be I’ll do all that I can to push him back into the international set up.”
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