Stokes, 21, showed glimpses of the pace and movement which helped him net 16 goals in 18 starts while on loan with the Bairns three years ago.

However, he missed two decent chances to open his account in yesterday's 3-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory, the second after being put clean through by Colin Nish.

"I got in some good positions but probably a little bit rusty," said Stokes, who revealed the game was the first time he had completed 90 minutes since last season.

"Hopefully, after a few games it'll all come back. I think there's goals there myself."

Of his second chance, which saw him try to chip the ball over Robert Olejnik, he added: "It was probably actually a little bit too easy because I just tried to poke it over him.

"As I said, it's probably just a bit of rustiness and I have to get fully fit now again and just get back into it.

"Towards the end, I was tiring a little bit. Obviously, I wanted to try to stay on and try to nick a goal, but it didn't happen.

"There's Wednesday to come and next Sunday, so just looking forward to those games."

Those matches come against Brechin, in the Co-operative Insurance Cup, and Celtic, in the SPL.

Hughes has offered Stokes the chance to revive a career that stalled after his exploits at Falkirk led to a move to Sunderland from Arsenal.

Stokes said: "For one reason or another, things didn't work out. I'm just happy to be back up here and back playing football.

"I'm happy to be back working with the gaffer, which is a big thing for me."

Blaming himself for failing to make the grade on Wearside, Stokes added: "It's up to me to get my head back on and concentrate on my football and back scoring goals."

Yesterday saw Hibs come from behind to win for the second straight week, with Sol Bamba and a Derek Riordan double cancelling out Ryan Flynn's opener.

Falkirk could have been further ahead in the first half, with Carl Finnigan also heading against the crossbar.

The striker said: "There is a lot of positives to take out of it.

"But we're in a situation where we have to win and taking positives out of it doesn't get you three points."

Bairns boss Eddie May criticised his players for getting involved in a "wrestling match" after the interval.

Finnigan held his hands up, saying: "It got quite messy, the second half. There were a lot of fouls and unnecessary things going on.

"You need to focus on the game and I think quite a few of us maybe got caught up in that."

Finnigan was involved in the game's major flashpoint, clashing with Bamba on the touchline.

The Hibs defender appeared to lash out at his opponent but it was Finnigan who picked up a booking, while Bamba escaped a second yellow card.

Hughes accused his former striker of trying to get Bamba sent off.

Finnigan denied this but insisted the defender should have seen red.

He added: "The linesman was right next to it so if he didn't see it, I don't know what he was watching."