Anthony Stokes has told Brendan Rodgers that he is the man to partner Leigh Griffiths up front for Celtic this season.

The forward was instrumental at Hampden on Saturday afternoon as he engineered a 3-2 win against Rangers to give Hibs, where he has spent the last five months on loan, their first Scottish Cup for 114 years.

Stokes netted twice but it was his directness that caused rangers full-back James Tavernier all manner of discomfort throughout the 90 minutes. And after welcoming the appointment of Rodgers to Celtic Park, Stokes has called for a second bite of the cherry with the Hoops.

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“I have said since day one that I wanted to go back,” he said. “I would love to play with Griff. The first season that Leigh and I played together we scored a barrowload. He came in for five or six months and he is someone that I really respect as a footballer.

“He is one of the best finishers that I have ever played with and I think we have showed already that we can link up well when we are out there together. He scored 40 goals this season – we could do a fair bit of damage with two of us up there.

“I think over two or three seasons if I am playing regularly then I will score 20 or above. If you are a striker at Celtic then that is the standard that you should be at and if you are going to play regularly up front for Celtic then you have to score at least 20 goals over the course of the season and I would always fancy myself to do that.

Stokes has never met Rodgers but believes that the new Celtic manager’s reputation precedes him.

The Republic of Ireland forward has made no secret of the fact that he and Ronny Deila did not see eye to eye, but he is looking to make a fresh start on his Hoops career with Rodgers at the helm.

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The forward has a year option still on his contract with the club and he wants the opportunity now to fulfil it.

“I haven’t spoken to the club but to be fair they knew where I was with a few big games on the horizon for me at Hibs but I would hope that over the course of this coming week that I might have some sort of correspondence from them,” he said.

Glasgow Times:

“I haven’t worked with Brendan or met him. I haven’t crossed paths with him in my career at all but I obviously know of him and I have to say that I thought it was a really great appointment from Celtic. He has a great reputation from playing attractive football and setting his stall out to go and win games.

“One of the reasons I wanted to go out on loan was to get fit, play games and be as sharp as I possibly could be. I feel that I am there now and hopefully if I get the chance to go back then I get the opportunity to show that. It is a blank canvas for everyone when a new manager comes in and it is a chance to go and stake a claim for a place in the team.

“I would love to be a part of it.

“I feel good. I am obviously happy at the minute, given what happened at the weekend. It was a big thing for me to help Hibs to win the Scottish Cup and it will live with me for the rest of my life. But we will see what happens next now.

“Brendan Rodgers’ appointment says it all. I am sure there were other candidates but he is the best that they could have got. It sets your stall out. It gives players something to think about, that’s for sure. “