ANTHONY Stokes’ disappointing Sunderland career is set to draw to a close with a loan move to Hibernian.

Black Cats manager Steve Bruce wants at least two attacking reinforcements, and The Journal understands that he is close to striking deals for Spurs forward Darren Bent and Hull City striker Fraizer Campbell – also a target for Newcastle.

That spells the end for Sunderland’s forgotten man Stokes, who is already way down the pecking order and in desperate need of first-team football after two seasons as a bit part player.

There has been interest at Championship and League One level but it is Hibernian, now managed by former Falkirk boss John Hughes, who are the most serious contenders for Stokes’ services.

However, the Edinburgh side do not have the resources to match Stokes’ hefty Sunderland wages, so Bruce will sanction a long-term loan to help the Irish striker revive his flagging career.

Bruce has carved a reputation as an excellent wheeler dealer in the transfer market and Black Cats fans can expect to see plenty of the players on the periphery of the squad depart over the next few months.

Although Bruce has stated that everyone will get a chance to prove themselves, he will not allow the situation that developed under Roy Keane where Sunderland had a huge squad full of players with little prospect of games.

The club had difficulty shifting a lot of their fringe men because they were on big wages – but a temporary move with Sunderland footing some of the bill is a possible solution.

Stokes, who will be pushed out of the equation if Sunderland sign both Kevin Doyle and long-term target Bent, knows that a change of scenery is required after failing to

nail down a regular starting spot in two and a half seasons at the Stadium of Light.