RONNY DEILA has told Problem Bhoy Anthony Stokes he STILL has a future at Celtic – if he gets his act together.
The Republic of Ireland striker returned to training yesterday following a two-week suspension for his “disrespectful” views on social media before the game against Inverness Caley Thistle earlier this month.
Stokes, who will not be involved in tomorrow’s squad for the home game against Motherwell, has featured just twice this season and has not made a first team appearance since August.
Deila, though, insisted the player’s time at the club is not up just yet and has urged him to work hard rather than waste his talent.
The Norwegian said: “We have talked and the situation is the same as before. He has to improve the things that I have been telling him for one year and if that happens then he is available.
“It is a long time. We have a contract with the players and my task is to never give up. I will never give up – I know his qualities. I know he can play football.
“I want to make the best out of him and I will never stop putting the demands on him, what he needs to get the best out of him.
“He has come back with a positive mind and is humble, but again it is about performances. It is about showing with consistency that things have changed.
“Yes, he apologised. That is always good, of course. If he doesn’t apologise then he doesn’t understand what is wrong, but he has been humble and has a positive attitude.
“Hopefully, now he will make the changes which will get him into the right frame to get the best out of him and he trained with the first team the two last days.”
Deila added: “Anthony is a very smart boy, he is not stupid. He knows players who want to get better have a future at Celtic. But if you don’t want to sacrifice everything to be the best then you have to play at other clubs. And that is not only Stokesy, that is everybody.
“Hopefully, he will understand the responsibility and get more mature. We learn through all these things. People who make one mistakes, two mistakes, three mistakes, in the end you have to make changes.
“It is not about giving him time then he shows me. He has to show me first then I will give him time. My job is to do everything I can as long as he is contracted at Celtic.”
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