Source: Team_Talk
Hughes: Stokes has let me down
Hughes made good on his promise to investigate the incident - which is said to have taken place a week ago on Sunday - and was far from happy with what he found out.
The Hibs manager was particularly upset because he feels he offered Stokes the opportunity to resurrect his stagnant career after signing the 21-year-old from Sunderland last month.
He said: "It's bitterly disappointing, really it is - especially when it's me who's put my name to him. That's the galling thing; you feel let down.
"You talk them up, what these guys can do, and then you wake up on the Saturday morning and you've got a big custard pie stuck in your face."
Hughes would not confirm whether Stokes had been disciplined over the incident, saying only that the matter had been dealt with internally.
He added: "We've now drawn a line under it and we have to move on. We don't condone that whatsoever.
"We take our own course of action, what we feel is appropriate, and that's it finished."
Hughes feels Stokes may have been the victim of a "stitch up" but added: "I don't think there's any smoke without fire; the bottom line is he shouldn't have been there in the first place."
The Hibs boss was also annoyed the player appeared to be out enjoying himself hours after the club suffered a 2-0 SPL defeat at Hamilton, a performance Hughes branded unacceptable.
Hughes urged Stokes to continue making headlines for the right reasons after he finally broke his duck for the club in Saturday's 3-0 win over St Johnstone.
"I want him to be on the back pages - like he was on Sunday - for scoring goals," Hughes said ahead of Tuesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup third-round tie against the same opponents.
"We're just looking forward to getting him playing football and scoring goals.
"That's what he's got in his locker so hopefully that'll be the case from now until the end of the season."
Stokes is not the first Hibs youngster to be embroiled in off-field controversy recently, and Hughes insists Hibs must be there to support as well as discipline players when they stray from the
straight and narrow.
"We have to make sure that we're here to help them and guide them and trust them and put them in the right direction," he said.
Stokes' recent antics could hardly be in sharper contrast to the attitude shown by captain Chris Hogg after being axed from the team on Saturday.
The defender paid the price for his performance at New Douglas Park but is responding in precisely the manner Hughes expected.
However, the 24-year-old may have to wait until after tomorrow's cup tie to regain his place.
Hughes said: "Hoggy's everything that you want at your club: the way he goes about his business, conducts himself, the way he trains; a really good professional.
"He'll come back from that and he'll respond in the right manner. He trained very well this morning so it'll not be too long before Hoggy's back in the starting XI."
