Hibernian manager John Hughes urged Anthony Stokes to focus on his football after the striker netted his first goals for the club on the day he hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The summer signing hit a clinical double to help Hibs to a 3-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory over St Johnstone following newspaper reports he was involved in an alleged nightclub fracas. Hughes admitted he was upset when he saw the story, which he vowed to investigate, but felt Stokes had responded in the right way.

"It's disappointing and frustrating that he's making the front pages," Hughes said. "Once we get the real story, we'll deal with it internally. But the only way to answer it is to do what he did."

The 21-year-old held off a defender before turning and firing home from 18 yards to give Hibs an unlikely 21st-minute lead, and he curled home a 73rd-minute free-kick to put the result beyond doubt.

Hughes was "thankful" for the finishing prowess of Stokes and Derek Riordan, who struck from 22 yards in the 36th minute, after admitting Saints should have taken the lead.

Visiting manager Derek McInnes admits his side have to start punishing teams when they are on top after watching them miss numerous chances as they sought their first SPL win.

McInnes, who was without the ill Felipe Morais, said: "We've been here before in terms of missing chances.

"I have said it after every game, including Celtic at Parkhead. We need to do better in front of goal - we should have taken the lead.

"Our performance should have got us better but the fact is we're leaving with a 3-0 defeat."