Anthony Stokes in possession for Blackburn during their FA Cup tie against Manchester United in February. Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

BLACKBURN ROVERS HAVE confirmed that the club have cancelled the contract of Irish striker Anthony Stokes by mutual consent.

Stokes, who joined Blackburn last summer after six years at Celtic, scored three times in 12 appearances for the English Championship club in the 2016-17 season.

Having signed a three-year contract with Rovers, the 28-year-old leaves Ewood Park two years early. He’s being linked with a return to newly-promoted Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.

Stokes returned for a second stint with Hibs — on loan — in January 2016 and scored twice against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final as the Edinburgh club won the competition for the first time in 114 years thanks to a 3-2 victory at Hampden Park.

The Dubliner has won nine caps for the Republic of Ireland at senior level, the most recent of which came in a 4-1 win over the USA in a friendly in November 2014.

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