Boss Lennon gives hotshot Stokes new contract to aim for

Neil Lennon last night revealed Anthony Stokes has barged his way to the top of the queue for a new contract with his impressive performance in Celtic’s 5-0 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Celtic’s win took them 17 points clear of administration-hit Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Stokes has been in and out of the team under Lennon and was fired up in his latest return from a spell on the bench at the expense of Georgios Samaras, heading the visitors into the lead from a Charlie Mulgrew corner with 14 minutes on the clock.

The Parkhead men went from strength to strength as a Gary Hooper brace and goals from Mulgrew and substitute Ki Sung-yueng, on for Victor Wanyama, extended the Parkhead side’s winning domestic run to 18 games. The Celtic boss highlighted the performance of the former Hibs striker, saying: “That’s Anthony’s best game under me since we brought him in and I couldn’t be more pleased with him today.

“I will review all the contracts at the end of the season but if we get over the line with the championship, he will be at the front of the queue because his contribution has been fantastic.

“He has been a bit frustrated at being in and out of the team at times and I can understand that — the kid just wants to play — but he has set a standard today, that’s for sure.”

Stokes admitted Lennon had been hard on him at times for his own good and looked forward to the prospect of a new contract. “Listen, I have never been happier at a club,” said the Dubliner. “I have another season after this and then an option and I can’t see myself playing for anyone else for a long time, if the offer is on the table.”

Rangers were deducted 10 points on Tuesday after going into administration and their 1-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday all but ended their faint title hopes.

Stokes was keen to stress that little notice is being taken of Rangers’ plight.

“We are not thinking about them, honestly,” he said. “We are not thinking about anything that’s going on over there, we are just focusing on ourselves and if you look at the games that we have played over the last few weeks you will see that.’’

Second bottom Hibs continue their relegation battle with Dunfermline and boss Pat Fenlon insists his side need to get back on track for the game against Motherwell at Fir Park in midweek.

“We have a massive game on Wednesday and we have to get the players up for that game and focusing on winning that game.”

HIBERNIAN: Stack, Doherty (Francomb 46), McPake, Hanlon, Kujabi, Claros, Osbourne, Stevenson, Wotherspoon, Griffiths (O’Donovan 73), Doyle (O’Connor 51).

CELTIC: Forster, Matthews, Kelvin Wilson, Rogne (Izaguirre 71), Mulgrew, Forrest, Wanyama (Ki 55), Brown, Ledley, Hooper (Commons 61), Stokes.

Ref: Craig Thomson.