May court date gives Stokes green light to play

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill will have Anthony Stokes available for the Euro 2016 qualification double-header against Gibraltar and Germany after the Celtic striker appeared in a Dublin court yesterday.

The 26-year-old is facing charges of assault on Elvis impersonator Anthony Bradley at a Dublin nightclub in June 2013.

Following a request to set a trial date from Lorcan Staines BL, defending Stokes, Judge Martin Nolan confirmed the player would be back in court on May 11, 2015 for the proceedings.