Hibs defender Jason Kerr believes that the fans will be hugely important against KAA Gent on Thursday night.
David Gray’s side welcome the Belgian Pro League side to Easter Road in a winner–takes–all second leg of the UEFA Conference League Play-Off tie, having earned a 0-0 draw at Planet Group Arena last week.
And Kerr has been here before.
In 2021/22, he helped St Johnstone to a 1-1 draw away at LASK in their Play-Off Round, before falling to a 2-0 home defeat five years ago today.
And Kerr doesn’t want to let this opportunity slip away with his boyhood Club.
He wants to make sure Hibs reach the group stage of a European competition for the first time in the Club’s history, while also becoming the first Scottish side to reach the league phase of the competition.
“It’s a massive lift for us to have Easter Road hopefully sold out and roaring,” said Kerr in his pre-match press conference at HTC.
“It’ll be a massive boost for us to hear that and to lift us, and hopefully the game doesn’t go wrong, but if it does, they’ll be right behind us, supporting us.
“All the lads are buzzing, and we can’t wait to get started.
“It’s obviously a massive game, and it’s the second half of the tie you could say.
“We know they’re a really good side with a lot of good players, so we need to be mindful of that, but we’ve got full confidence in ourselves.
“It’s going to take a lot from every player, and no one’s going to have a day off tomorrow, but I’ve got full confidence in the players we have in the dressing room.
“I think we’ve shown in the last few games we’ve played in the qualifying stage that we’re more than capable of winning this competition.
“I just think if we’re on it tomorrow, then we’ve got a right chance
“It’ll be massive for everyone at the Club – to qualify for the League Phase – obviously for the supporters as well.
“It’s something that Hibs have never done before, so it’ll be history in that sense. I think every player in the dressing room really wants to do it, and we’ve got full confidence that we can do it.”
