Ex-Celtic and Arsenal striker pleads guilty to assaulting Elvis impersonator

Ireland international forward Anthony Stokes has pleaded guilty to assaulting an Elvis Presley impersonator in Dublin in 2013.

The former Celtic frontman, who joined Blackburn Rovers over the summer, was due to go on trial over the incident on November 22. But Stokes, 28, has admitted the charge this week at an arraignment hearing and will be sentenced on December 20. The incident took place at Buck Whaleys nightclub in the Irish capital on June 8, 2013. Stokes with former Celtic teammate Leigh Griffiths (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) Stokes, who has nine Republic of Ireland caps to his name, came through the youth system at Arsenal but made just one appearance for the London club. He has Premier League experience with Sunderland, playing for the club during Roy Keane's tenure, but has spent the bulk of his career in Scotland with Celtic and Hibernian. Stokes' trial was initially delayed on the grounds that he had "started new employment" after rejoining Hibs on loan from Celtic last season. He scored nine goals for the Edinburgh club during his second spell, including a third-minute strike against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final - a goal with which Celtic fans were very pleased. He scored on his Blackburn debut after joining Owen Coyle's side over the summer, netting in a 4-1 defeat at home to Norwich, and added his first double in August's EFL Cup victory over Mansfield Town.