Marc McNulty keen to return to Easter Road next season

Marc McNulty wants to continue his football career at Easter
Road after impressing following his transfer window move in January.

The striker’s form with Hibs earned him an international
call-up and he is keen to catch Steve Clarke’s eye next season as Scotland
attempt to qualify for a major tournament for the first time in over 20-years.

It is understood that Reading boss Jose Manuel Gomes told McNulty
that he wasn’t in his plans almost immediately after taking over from the
sacked Paul Clement last December.

When asked about his future following Hibs’ final day defeat
to Aberdeen on Sunday, McNulty said: “I’ve got three years left at Reading,
it’s not just a case of me saying I want to go and Reading saying ‘all right,
see you later’, it’s very complicated.

“It took ages to get the loan deal done. To do the permanent
I’m guessing it will be the same. There’s a lot of stuff in the background that
makes it difficult. But if I need to push it, then I will.

“I’ve just been told to report back for Reading training on
July 1 and Hibs are back on June 20.

“I’m going to guess that Hibs will try and get something
done before then so I am in with the boys and personally I would like that too.

“I definitely want to be here. I’ve enjoyed every minute of
it.

“With a good pre-season it will get better, especially if we
bring in a couple of new players then we will be very strong.

“I came up and started so well, but I dipped which was
frustrating. I think with the manager and the squad we have, and a good
pre-season with a couple of additions, then if I do come back we should do
really well.

“When I came up that was my goal to try and do well and get
a Scotland cap and I’ve managed to do that.

“Unless you are playing in the Premier League or
Championship down in England then you need to be doing something extraordinary
to get a look in.

“There’s a pecking order and rightly so if those boys are
doing it at that level, they should be ahead of you on merit if you’re only in
League One or whatever.

“But if you come up here and do it in Scotland then you’ve
got a better chance of being in the squad.

“I don’t want to shut the door on anything, but I think I
need to be settled somewhere. I can’t just keep going on loan after loan. I
would push for the permanent side and try and get myself settled, but if that
wasn’t possible and the only option was a loan, then I would be happy.”