ANTHONY Stokes could be allowed to leave Blackburn Rovers on loan on deadline day, but only if the club receive a ‘very serious offer’.

Rovers have fielded enquiries about Stokes, who hasn’t started a game for the first-team since August, despite arriving from Celtic in the summer on a three-year deal.

The 28-year-old, who has struggled with injuries since his arrival at Ewood Park, has been nudged down the pecking order at Rovers following the arrival of Lucas Joao from Sheffield Wednesday and the return of Marvin Emnes from Swansea.

With five strikers on the books, that could free up Stokes to leave the club in a bid to get some game-time under his belt in the final months of the season.

He has been linked with a move to former side Hibs, managed by Neil Lennon who had Stokes as a player during their time at Celtic.

But Owen Coyle says that will only be sanctioned if an acceptable offer is made.

“Anthony is one that has been stop-start with different things,” he said.

“He’s had a few injuries, a couple of things off the field which haven’t helped him and affected him, but the bottom line is that he has to be focussed on his job.

“If that’s here, then we know that he’s got ability, can score goals, and he has to be ready both mentally and physically to do his best for Blackburn Rovers.

“There have been one or two enquiries but none that would make us sit up and take notice as this moment in time, so until that happens we’ll continue as we are.

“We would need the right offer.

“We know what he can bring, he has shown that, as he did in the Under-23s game last week (against Burnley) where he scored two wonderful goals and played very well.

“He’s one we know he has ability, that’s why it would need to be a very serious offer to make any inroads.”