BIG STAGE IS PERFECT FOR HIBS’ STOKES

ALAN STUBBS has backed Hibs hitman Anthony Stokes to do the Old Firm double and end Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run in the Betfred Cup. The Easter Road ace will line up against his old club – who haven’t lost in 59 Scottish games – in Saturday’s semi-final and Stubbs insists the striker (above) thrives in big matches. Not least because the Irishman netted a brace in an unforgettable triumph over Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final in 2016, ending the club’s 114-year wait to lift the silverware. The Hibees came within 10 minutes of ending the Celtic streak this month in a 2-2 draw but Stubbs (inset) reckons they can go one better at Hampden. He said: “It will be a brilliant stage for Stokes, it’s what he thrives on. “Sometimes when he was there he’d be quiet in lower-key games. This season he has been more influential because he’s playing better teams. “Saturday’s a great stage for Anthony to upset the applecart. “He’s in good form, scoring and contributing a lot to how the team’s performing. He’s going to be huge on Saturday. If Anthony and John Mcginn play well then Hibs have a good chance.” Meanwhile, Stubbs admits he’s disappointed to see Liam Henderson’s career stall at Parkhead. The 21-year-old made his first appearance of the season last Saturday in the win over Dundee. But Stubbs, who had the player on loan while Hibees boss, reckons he needs to play regularly. And he revealed that Henderson called during the last transfer window to ask if he could find any club interested in a deal. Stubbs said: “It has really stalled for Liam. Before the deadline he rang me up. He wanted to try to get away and for me to speak to a few people down south to see if there was any interest. “I find it impossible to believe no one rang up asking for him. Maybe the teams were not ones who made him want to go. He’s very talented and a pleasure to work with.”