I’LL NAIL STOKESY IF HE CROSSES LINE
HIBS v AYR UNITED Lennon issues warning but trusts his striker
NEIL LENNON is adamant Anthony Stokes doesn’t deserve the bad-boy reputation he’s brought with him to his third stint at Easter Road.
But the Hibs gaffer will not shy away from applying a “stick across the backside” if his former Celtic pupil does step out of line.
Stokes made his third “debut” as a late sub in the 3-1 win over Partick Thistle as Hibs returned to the Premiership with a bang after three years away.
The 29-year-old could start tonight’s Betfred Cup clash with Ayr as Lennon seeks to get game time in his legs ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Rangers.
But while the Irishman’s on-field talents are not in doubt – when he is fully fit – he seems destined to always have question marks over other aspects of his game, with Tony Mowbray talking of off-field problems during last season’s spell at Blackburn.
Lennon though believes the hitman, whom he signed for Celtic in 2010, will cause him no sleepless nights.
The Hibs boss said: “Can I keep Stokesy’s head in the right place? It’s a very difficult thing to do!
“Seriously, there is a familiarity there with myself and the club too. He also knows there is a line he can’t cross with me.
“He managed that very well for four years – and there’s no reason he can’t do the same again.
“Sometimes it gets blown out of proportion as well. There is no doubting his ability. And you don’t lose the ability.
“Sometimes you lose your way, whether it be through injury or things away from football. But if you can get him right and focused the talent is still there.
“I don’t think he takes a lot of managing. We do have these figures in the game, the mavericks, the rascals.
“And sometimes the stories around them get blown out of all proportion. But I’ve known him for a long time and I know the type of kid he is. He’s all right.
“And yeah if he needs a stick across the backside he’ll get one.”
There is no doubting Stokes’s hero status with the Hibs support after his Scottish Cup Final double last year but it appears the fans have found another favourite in Simon Murray.
Recruited from Dundee United in the summer he has already banged in eight goals in five appearances.
A penalty against Thistle capped a display that earned him the man-of-the-match award and a standing ovation when he was replaced with just five minutes remaining.
Lennon added: “He’s in a good place and has exceeded my expectations. “But we’re only one game into the season – give him five!
“What we want to do is polish off the rough edges if there are any. But he’s doing it all by himself right now.”