Rising Hibernian star Sean Mackie has admitted that he spoke to Hibs chief George Craig before he left Easter Road to join Dundee on loan as he feared his time at the club was up – and was relieved to find out that wasn’t the case as he looks to become a “better player” at Dens Park.
Mackie made a good impression after breaking into the side at the tail end of last season after an injury to Lewis Stevenson, signing a new long-term contract in May, but was worried he was being “drafted out of the picture” when he learned of the Dark Blues’ interest.
Mackie spoke to Craig and manager Paul Heckingbottom who both told him they see a long-term future at Easter Road and weren’t looking at moving him on permanently.
“I spoke to George Craig and asked him if that was me getting drafted out of the picture, but both he and the manager told me that isn’t the case,” Mackie said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I only signed a new contract at the end of last season and both of them said they wouldn’t have done that if they were thinking that way.
“The gaffer phoned me, told me that he thinks this would be good for me and he expects me to come back a better player.
“I agree with that because I want to be involved on a Saturday. That’s what the move is all about. it’s about becoming a better player and helping Dundee out.”
The Dens Park side will be hoping to push city rivals United all the way in the race for the Championship title this season, and the spell in Tayside should really help Mackie.
With game-time at Easter Road unlikely to be a regular thing this season, it makes far more sense to go out and play for a club with sizeable expectations than sitting in the stands watching Hibernian.