Jason Kerr helped guide Hibs to a first clean sheet of the 2026/27 campaign last night en route to a 0-0 draw at KF Shkëndija and a spot in the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round.
But now he is focussed on Sunday’s League Cup tie against Partick Thistle at Easter Road.
Having won 2-1 in Edinburgh last week, courtesy of goals from Owen Elding and Warren O’Hora, the players knew anything other than defeat would take them to within two games of becoming the first Hibs side in history to reach the group stage of European football.
And Kerr and his teammates delivered exactly what was needed at National Arena Toše Proeski with a disciplined defensive display that limited the North Macedonian hosts to virtually no clear-cut opportunities, which saw them book a clash with Belgian Pro League outfit KAA Gent next week.
At full-time, Kerr was rightfully pleased with his performance during a successful night and recognised how close he is to creating history with his boyhood club.
Speaking to Hibs TV, he said: “I’m obviously delighted. To get a clean sheet as well was massive for us.
“We said before the game that we’ve not had a clean sheet yet this season, so that’s all that was needed really to get through in the tie, and we’ve done that.
“I know it was probably a dull game to watch, but we had to do what we had to do, and that was to get through the tie.
“I’ve obviously watched Hibs in the past playing the European qualifiers and obviously just not quite making it, so it’s good to actually be able to influence those games now and actually help the boys out.
“We’ve got a really tough tie next ahead of us, so we really need to focus on that, but I think with the quality we’ve got in the changing room we can be really positive about it.”
Kerr also praised the 500 away fans who made the long journey to North Macedonia.
He added: “They were brilliant. We actually saw them when we got off the plane and they were singing, so I think they’ve been brilliant.
“They’ve followed us wherever we’ve gone, and I’m sure they appreciated us getting through in the end, and hopefully they’ll be off having a few pints now!
“[A result like this] can be massive. That is three huge results now, and I think even with the one we lost against Motherwell, we still put in a good performance and just lost it at the end.
“I think it’s been a good start to the season, and hopefully we can keep that going.
“We’ve got an important game on Sunday as well against Partick Thistle, so all our focus will be on that, and getting another win.”
