Ryan Gauld is determined to remind Scottish football what he’s all about and show how much he’s benefited from his time in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon.
Paperwork prevented the Under-21 international from playing in Hibs’ friendly victory yesterday but he is likely to make his debut against Elgin in the Scottish Cup next Saturday.
He arrived in Dubai for Hibs’ winter training camp early on Tuesday morning, he sailed through his medical and since then has joined in with a gym session while the formalities of the deal were concluded.
Gauld told Hibs TV: “I’ve been aware that Hibs were keen to get me in the door as soon as possible and that made me feel really wanted. It played a big part in my decision to come here.
“The environment played a big part in me deciding where I wanted to go. Hibs sent me a presentation to show how I would fit in and how they saw me playing.
“That also played a big part in convincing me that this was the right place for me to be and the best place to play my football.
“The manager told me to come here and show everyone what I can do, to go and try to add quality to the team. “Hopefully we can push Hibs back into the top six, where we belong, and then even further into the top four.
“I felt like it was the right time to come back to Scotland and it’s the first time since I left that I’ve felt that. “Hibs represented the best opportunity for me with the way the team likes to play. It’s the best fit for me. “In the last couple of years Hibs have taken on a lot of young boys and given them a platform to go and show what they can do with the likes of John McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and Scott Allan.
“It’s a great club to play for, one of the biggest in Scotland, and I’m just looking forward to getting started.
“I think I’ve learned a lot on and off the pitch in the last few years. It’s an experience I’m glad I took a chance on and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“I think I’ve come on tactically more than anything. There’s a big emphasis on that side of the game in Portugal. Now I’m back in Scotland and ready to concentrate on playing there.”
“I’m happy everything’s been finalised pretty early in January because it gives me more time to come and train with the boys to get to know everyone before the first game back.
“The boys are here for a week of hard work in training. I was very keen to get here as soon as possible.”
“I’ve been welcomed by the supporters online. I’m willing to work hard for the team, give everything I’ve got and hopefully learn the words to Sunshine on Leith…”
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.
