Brandon Barker has revealed that Neil Lennon was a major influence in his decision to join Hibs on loan from English giants Manchester City.
The winger made his debut from the bench in Saturday’s defeat to Hamilton on Saturday and despite not being able to affect the result, he did enough to whet the supporters’ appetite.
Lennon is a long term admirer of the youngster who is determined to make a similar impression to his team mate Patrick Roberts did last year at Celtic.
Speaking after Saturday’s game Barker said: “I knew the manager and everything just seemed like it was the perfect loan for me to develop my career. He is a great manager and everyone knows him in football.
“I know what he wanted me to bring and hopefully, I can express myself here and bring a different dimension, breaking lines, running past players, dribbling, creating and scoring goals.
“It always helps when the manager knows what you’re about, especially when you’re on loan because sometimes it can get difficult.
“If the manager already knows what you’re about, it makes it a little bit easier to settle in and show everyone what you can do. Hopefully, I can start making people believe in me more.
“All my friends have been wishing me good luck and I just thought that this fitted perfectly when we discussed it and, hopefully, I can bring my full potential out here.
“I know Pat. (Patrick Roberts) and played with him quite a few times in the national team and at City as well.
“He did really well last year and he couldn’t have asked for a better one.
“Hopefully I can have the same success as he did. He had a fantastic year, he was playing some great football with Celtic.
“I didn’t speak with him about the move. He was on his pre-season and I was on mine.
“It’s really my decision and I thought this was the best move for me.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
