Leeds are reportedly considering a move for Anthony Stokes of Celtic, if their pursuit of Kevin Doyle fails.

The 24-year-old striker began his career with Arsenal but has spent much of his time in Scotland, initially at Falkirk before moving on to Hibs and Celtic via Sunderland. The black-cats paid £2m for him in 2007 under Roy Keane but the Sunderland Echo, who led this story earlier, brand him as a flop scoring just three goals in 36 appearances. He had two loan spells, one with Crystal Palace and one with Sheffield United which yielded a total of one goal which came on his Palace debut against Preston.

He has been slightly more prolific in the lesser standard of Scottish football and managed seven in 23 appearances for the Hoops last term. However he has stalled on signing a new-deal and with just a year left on his contract and given he could leave on a free next year, he could be available on the cheap!

He seems to be something of a colourful character, last week an Elvis impersonator in his native Dublin alledged that Stokes head butted him. His father, who was a publican was ordered by the Garda to remove a sign from his pub called "The Players Lounge" barring the Queen from his establishment during her state visit to Ireland. The pub has since burnt down.

Stokes also was reprimanded by Hoops boss Neil Lennon for attending "a tribute" to Real IRA member Alan Ryan last December. Stokes attendance at the event prompted death-threats.

He also fell out with Ireland boss Giovanni Trappitoni for pulling out of an end-of-season friendly.

Makes our beloved El Hadji Diouf seem a shy, quiet, retiring kind of chap!

Given his abysmal record in England, I'm not really sure if Stokes would prove to be a useful addition to our squad or is any better than the strikers we already have or are being linked with.

The Echo story reports that Leeds will try and land Stokes should our rumoured interest in fellow Eire striker Kevin Doyle stall. Doyle is set for crunch-talks over the next couple of weeks with new Wolves boss Kenny Jackett who hopes to persuade him to stay.

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