Source: Team_Talk
Stokes salutes Lennon approach
Anthony Stokes has credited manager Neil Lennon with helping him adjust to the rigours of playing for Celtic.[LNB] The striker enjoyed a successful goalscoring return in his first season with the club, netting 19 goals following his move on the final day of August.[LNB]But some reports claimed he was on his way out of the club in May after incurring the wrath of Lennon ahead of the final Scottish Premier League clash with Motherwell.[LNB]Stokes missed the game following a breach of club discipline but Lennon later played down the incident and the Irishman then appeared in the Scottish Cup final win over the Lanarkshire side.[LNB]Controversy soon returned for Stokes as Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni criticised his decision to pull out of the Carling Nations Cup finale and the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.[LNB]Stokes felt he was misrepresented over that decision and claims he has grown accustomed to the extra attention he has received while playing for Celtic.[LNB]The 23-year-old said: "I'm used to it at this stage. I know if I have done anything wrong, it will be blown out of proportion.[LNB]"I have put myself in bad situations as well so it's probably a bit of both to be honest.[LNB]"The situation with Ireland, everyone knows I only had a couple of weeks off.[LNB]"It's going to be a long season and I just wanted a rest. I had other things going on as well.[LNB]"That was it - I never said I was too tired to play. Sometimes you have to look at other things in your life as well, that's all it was really."[LNB]Stokes, who has had to deal with front-page headlines over the arrest of family members, including his mother and father, in Dublin this year, praised Lennon for his personal touch.[LNB]The former Sunderland player said: "The gaffer has been there and done it all.[LNB]"I think that's the reason we all gelled together so well last season, he understands different players and he knows how to treat them.[LNB]"That's one of the reasons I feel I have a good relationship with him."[LNB]Stokes evidently does not have the same accord with Trapattoni, who left him out of a 32-man provisional squad for a friendly against Croatia on August 10.[LNB]"I haven't spoken to him at all," he said.[LNB]"To be honest I don't really think it makes any difference. When I have gone away with the Ireland teams I have rarely played."[LNB]The Republic have two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Slovakia and Russia in September but Stokes is not overly optimistic of forcing his way back in for those games.[LNB]"There is nothing I can do really other than just focus on my football at Celtic and hopefully get the call-up," he said.[LNB]"But I can't see it happening to be honest."[LNB]Stokes scored in Celtic's 2-0 SPL win over former club Hibernian on Sunday but he now has to turn his attention to friendly matches.[LNB]Before their second SPL match against Aberdeen, Celtic face Wolves at Parkhead on Wednesday before a trip to Dublin to take on Inter Milan and a League of Ireland select, and a match against Swansea in Wales.[LNB]"It is a bit strange, extra games on a season that's going to be quite long anyway," Stokes said.[LNB]"But going by the other day, we can use the sharpness.[LNB]"When I heard about it, to start off with I was a bit dubious but I think now it really will be good for us.[LNB]"I'm looking forward to it and for me it's good getting to go home for the Dublin tournament."
