JOHN HUGHES has urged clubs to take a chance on Anthony Stokes, following his departure from Livingston.
The former Inverness boss admitted “baggage” seems to follow Stokes but countered that by saying “geniuses always have their flaws”.
Stokes and Livi came to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract after apparent fitness concerns prevented him from making his debut.
And Hughes, who worked with Stokes at Hibs and Falkirk, has encouraged managers to get the forward back to his best.
As reported in the Daily Record he said: “To get the chance to come back and play in the Premiership was exactly what he needed because in the last couple of years he’s been on his travels and not played much football.
“I was thinking, ‘Good on you Stokesy, get yourself back in Scottish football, back in the Premiership, back scoring, back in the headlines’.
“The deal was only for a year, so score a load of goals and have Livi wanting to keep you or other teams wanting to sign you. But it seems it’s just not a match and they decided to part ways. Livingston are all for one and one for all, that’s their strength. But Stokesy’s not that character, he’s more of an individual. He just wants to do his stuff and put the ball in the net. There should be a place for these guys in teams.
“He’s one of the best I’ve worked with and, knowing that quality, it frustrates the life out of me. At 32, you’re hoping he’s got another three or four years.
“I love him to bits, I can’t say a bad word against him. The times I’ve signed him for Falkirk and Hibs – and the goals he’s scored – it frustrates me that he’s only got nine caps. But it’s like everything else, these geniuses have all got that flaw in them.
“There’s always baggage that follows him, there’s no point in denying that, but I’ve always found him different class.
“Hopefully there’s someone willing to say, ‘That doesn’t scare me, I’ve worked with rough diamonds worse than him and I’ll polish him up’. If they do that and get him disciplined, there’s no doubt they’ve got a Premier player on their hands.”
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