Stokes doubles up to keep Celtic on track

Anthony Stokes insists there will be no let-up at Celtic even though it is just a matter of when and not if they win the Scottish Premier League.

The Hoops striker, 24, scored twice in the 6-2 win over Dundee United at Parkhead on Saturday which took the champions 18 points clear of Motherwell.

Midfielder Kris Commons also scored a double, one from the spot, and there were goals for defender Efe Ambrose and midfielder Joe Ledley.

At 2-1 in the first half goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved a Jon Daly penalty, although the visitors opened the scoring through Stuart Armstrong and finished it through Johnny Russell.

While Celtic’s European campaign is all but over following the 3-0 defeat by Juventus in the first leg of their last-16 clash at Parkhead on Tuesday night, the Hoops’ title victory is similarly inevitable following their sixth successive SPL win.

However, Stokes, back in the frame after an ankle injury decimated the first part of the campaign, knows Celtic will not be allowed to canter in the final stages.

“We demand it from ourselves to perform in each game and fans want to see us winning every game,” said the former Hibernian player.

“That’s the mentality we go out with every week so we won’t be taking our foot off the pedal until the end of the season.

“I’m judged on goals and that’s what I look back at the end of the season.

“If you are hitting over 20 goals you are having a reasonably good season but it’s hard now, coming back from injury and missing so many games but I just want to score as many as I can.”