Hibs' cup-winning legend Anthony Stokes wants fourth Easter Road spell as he reveals why he left after Neil Lennon disagreement

The Irishman was most recently playing in Iran

Anthony Stokes is open to a move back to Hibs for his fourth spell at the club.

The Irishman was most recently playing with Iranian giants Persepolis but the player is now eyeing a move to a club in the UK when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Stokes wrote himself into the history books at Easter Road after netting twice in the 3-2 win over Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final to end the 114-year hex.

Anthony Stokes in action during his second Hibs spell. Picture: SNS

The loan move from Celtic to Alan Stubbs’ side was the second of three spells at the club.

He then signed a two-year deal in 2017 when Neil Lennon was boss but was released in January 2018 after clashing with club management on a warm weather training camp.

“I always loved Hibs,” he told former team-mate Marvin Bartley in a one-to-one interview. “Genuinely.

“Even the last time I was there I’d have loved to stay but it was just me being a bit of my usual self with Lennon. Not backing down where I probably could have. I get like that, stand my ground and sometimes it goes against me, I don’t dwell on it.

“But the last time with Hibs I wished I had stayed a bit longer.”

Yogi

Stokes, who scored 44 goals in 94 appearances for the club, revealed his desire to return.

“I’d love to have another stint at Hibs but it’s unlikely that it’ll ever happen,” he said.

“I’m not even 32 yet. The last few years I’ve done the whole abroad thing and had enough of it.”

Stokes’ first spell in Leith came following his switch from Sunderland with John Hughes a huge draw for the striker having worked under him at Fulham.

The 31-year-old has huge admiration for the former Hibs boss.

“That was an easy move,” Stokes said of his transfer to Easter Road. “I didn’t enjoy the last year at Sunderland and I was still fairly young. It was just an easy decision.

“I’ll go, enjoy my football and to be perfectly honest with you, in my head I thought ‘I’d love another opportunity to go to Celtic’. Speaking to my dad when I signed, this is a two-year deal, I can get out after one, ideally I will go there.

“It was brilliant. I really, really enjoyed that year. Probably one of the happiest times of my career.

“We had a great team, Yogi was brilliant. Certain players will play with a manager who pushes them but Yogi got the best out of me because I trusted him.

“See if I had a bad game I never felt under pressure. I always felt it was easy to play under him. If the gaffer is confident in you, you don’t feel under pressure, you’re at ease and your football just flows. I always found that under him.”

His 21 league goals helped Hibs finish fourth and qualify for Europe. It also opened up a dream move to Celtic with Lennon bringing him to Parkhead.

Stokes said: “I just ended up having a chat with him, that was it. He sort of said: ‘Look, I’m interested in you. If I can get you, I’m going to try and get you’.

“I said: ‘I’ll jump at the chance. I missed it once, I’m not going to miss it again.’ It was just a case of getting that deal done, it wasn’t about the money.”