Stokes looks forward to Hearts clash

Anthony Stokes hopes to make a goalscoring debut for Celtic when he comes up against his old foes Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday. The former Hibernian striker struck twice against the Gorgie men last season to help him become the Easter Road club's top scorer and earn a move to Parkhead.He scored in a 1-1 home draw and a penalty in a 2-1 defeat to their Edinburgh rivals at the same venue later in the season.And the 22-year-old striker is looking for another goal against the Tynecastle men if he is given his first opportunity in a Hoops shirt by boss Neil Lennon.He said: "The Hearts games were brilliant, there was always a great atmosphere and the lads were well up for it."I've been lucky enough to score a few goals against them sohopefully I can get a few more."I don't think I'm going to get a good reception (from the Hearts fans) but that's part and parcel of football."The international break has delayed Stokes' first appearance for his boyhood heroes but the waiting has just made the Irishman keener to get started."It has dragged out a little but it has given me time to get to know the lads," the former Sunderland striker said."The training has been brilliant, lots of games and ball work."Stokes is looking forward to renewing his partnership with fellow Irishman and former Stadium of Light team-mate, Daryl Murphy, who scored his first goal for the Hoops from the spot in a 1-0 win at Motherwell before the international break."We played with each other at Sunderland and did quite well," Stokes said."He's bit more of a target man, more physical than I am and I think we could do well."We have an understanding because we trained together at Sunderland for two years and played a lot of games together."So we have a fair idea of what runs we are going to make and bits and pieces like that."

Source: Team_Talk