Anthony Stokes could be a about to put his Blackburn Rovers nightmare behind him with a potential transfer to Polish League leaders Jagiellonia Bialystok on the cards
The Independent have reported that the Dubliner could be on his way to Poland with Champions League football a realistic possibility for next season. The striker, who has represented Celtic in the competition previously, will hope to add some firepower to their title tilt.
Bialystok have been the surprise package in the Ekstraklasa and are hoping to pull off a similar shock to last season’s Premier League winners Leicester City. Located near the Belorussian border, the club were also linked with another Irish striker who has featured regularly in the Champions League, Cillian Sheridan. The Cavan native was tipped to join from Cypriot club Omonia but a move has yet to materialise.
However, with another three weeks of the Polish transfer window remaining, Bialystok could end up finishing the season with an Irish striking partnership of Stokes and Sheridan.
Stokes joined Blackburn Rovers last summer after six years with Celtic. Unfortunately, however, it has been a spell to forget at Ewood Park. After scoring on his league debut, Stokes has failed to do so since and has only racked up nine appearances for the Championship strugglers.
He did score two goals in the League Cup but injuries and loss of form may have signalled the end of his time at Rovers. A move to Bialystok could kick-start the once prolific striker’s career. Should the club qualify for the Champions League it would represent an intelligent move for the man who has endured a turbulent career thus far.
With Ireland short on strikers and Stokes a naturally talented finisher, a move abroad could present him with an outside chance of putting himself back into the mind of O’Neill despite a so far disappointing international career.
Nick Menezes, Pundit Arena
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