Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes insists he's no troublemaker.

The former Arsenal trainee came in for public criticism from Republic of Ireland Under 21 boss Don Givens recently after withdrawing from international duty through injury but failing to inform Givens.

And Stokes crossed Black Cats chief Roy Keane last season when he was one of three players to miss the team bus for a Championship game at Barnsley in March.

But he told the Sunday Sun: "I have to be careful that people don't get the wrong impression about me.

"Sometimes I think I get the harsh end of the stick.

"I know there have been a couple of problems but as far as I'm concerned, that's all in the past.

"The bus incident was a big mistake but I spoke to Roy Keane about it, apologised and that has been sorted out."

Stokes added: "As far as the Ireland situation was concerned, I had a niggling injury so I wouldn't have been able to go over there and play anyway.

"It was just a misunderstanding. I spoke to the gaffer about it but I genuinely didn't realise that I had to contact Ireland. They had a different view on that."