An Elvis impersonator has told police that the Celtic striker Anthony Stokes broke his nose in a Dublin nightclub.

Anthony Bradley, 49, told the Scottish Daily Record he was attacked "out of nowhere" by a man alleged to be the 24-year-old Stokes.

Police said they were treating the attack as "vicious and unprovoked" and confirmed that Stokes was the alleged attacker.

A Celtic spokesman said: "We believe the police are carrying out an investigation. We would, therefore, not be able to make any comment at this stage.

"However, when that investigation is complete, we will conduct our own inquiry into the matter."

Sources close to Stokes have confirmed there was an incident in the nightclub but deny he was the aggressor.

Bradley, who was also left with three broken teeth, said: "I'm as well as can be expected. I had to go for surgery to correct my nose. It was an unprovoked attack. I'm still in shock.

"It came from nowhere. This guy wasn't even involved and he stepped in out of nowhere and decided to involve himself. I didn't even know him because I am not a football fan. I'm still in shock. It doesn't make sense at all."

Stokes is thought to be in the Caribbean on holiday.

A spokesman for Buck Whaley's nightclub said: "A drink was spilled on Anthony Bradley's coat. Words were exchanged between two groups. There was some altercation. The bouncers were straight in, separated them and turfed Stokes out."