Anthony Stokes is desperate to make his Celtic debut against Hearts in the SPL this weekend with one instruction from manager Neil Lennon – to score goals.
Stokes signed a four-year contract on transfer deadline day from Hibernian in a £1.2million deal.
The 22-year-old, who scored twice against Hearts last season, is hoping to find the target in his first appearance for the Bhoys, if he can convince Lennon he should be selected for a forward place.
“The gaffer just wants goals,” Stokes said, “He just said to me to do what I did at Hibs, stay in the box and get on the end of things, then it’s up to me to put him in a position where I have to play.
“I know that at Celtic there’s competition all over the pitch. It’s down to me to do well in training and force the gaffer into a decision.”
Stokes picked up a booking for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s against Switzerland last Friday, meaning he was suspended for today’s clash with Turkey.
The striker can now focus on Saturday’s clash with the Jambos as Celtic seek a fourth straight league win.
He said: “The international break has been good because it gave me another match to get fit for Hearts, but I would rather be going straight into training.
“The main thing for me is to work my socks off and get myself in the team, and I’m sure the goals will take care of themselves after that.”
Meantime, Marc-Antoine Fortune, the man who Stokes has replaced, today insisted he was not a flop at Parkhead.
Fortune, signed for £3.8 million from Nancy last year, scored just 12 goals and was sold to former club West Brom in the transfer window.
He said: “I know I am not a goalscorer. I am a striker who likes to play football and work for the team. I am happy to have more assists than goals.
“I like a challenge and went to Celtic, but I never regretted it.”
Celtic will hold a minute’s applause before Saturday’s game against Hearts to mark the 25th anniversary of Jock Stein’s death.
Stein, who won 10 league titles and led the Hoops to a European Cup triumph in 1967, died on September 10, 1985.
He suffered a heart attack at Ninian Park, Cardiff, during Scotland’s World Cup qualifying match against Wales.
And flags will fly at half mast on Friday at Celtic Park, the day of the anniversary.
