Anthony Stokes was as happy as any Celtic fan with the return to fitness of Gary Hooper.
The former Scunthorpe striker made a welcome- and scoring- return to action against Hibs at the weekend and is available for the crucial run of matches over the next five weeks.
Stokes was pleased to get amongst the goals at the club where he started the season but it was being reunited with Hooper that gave him most satisfaction.
“Hoops coming back makes it a lot easier for me,” Stokes told channel 67. “I’m happier when there’s someone else up front.
“I think that we have a very good understanding, we’re similar in a lot of ways. The runs that he makes are very similar and I always have a fair idea where he’ll be on the pitch and that makes it easier for me.”
Hooper and Stokes both hit hat-tricks the last time that Celtic faced Aberdeen but the former Hibs striker is expecting an entirely different proposition when Craig Brown brings his side to Parkhead on Saturday.
Three games against the Dons within ten days will test Celtic’s credentials with Stokes expecting a tough test on Saturday.
“I’ve watched Aberdeen over the last few weeks and their form has completely turned around,” the striker added.
“Their form has completely turned around, they’ve had some very good results. We’ll approach it like we do any game, show them respect and I don’t think that it’ll be anything like the last game.”
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