Hibs’ £600k boost and the double threat set to strike fear into opposition

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Things have been on the up at Hibs for several weeks now.

The winless run that had them scrapping about at the bottom of the Premiership is now a distant memory after instead going eight without a defeat in all competitions.

It’s also just one loss from 11 and that came against Celtic away from home.

Martin Boyle is back on form and scoring goals and they’re not leaking anywhere near as many at the other end.

It is all positive down Leith way just now and manager David Gray spoke of the two real plus points of the win over Clydebank in the Scottish Cup, before then being matched up with Ayr United in last night’s draw.

One of those was the return from injury of summer signing Kieron Bowie, who broke down with a hamstring problem just weeks into his Easter Road career.

A run out towards the end of the win over the non-league side was a welcome sight and the 22-year-old will now add another option up front.

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Hibs’ Bowie boost

Hibs splashed out £600,000 to sign the frontman from Fulham at the start of the season, a significant sum for any club in Scotland outside of Glasgow.

To be robbed of his services for the majority of the season so far has been a source of massive frustration for manager David Gray and supporters.

That’s why his return is seen as £600,000 January window boost without actually having to spend a penny.

Tam McManus told the Daily Record: “Kieron Bowie was a big-money purchase by Hibs at the start of the season. They might not have spent anything yet in this month’s window, but that’s a £600,000 boost that hasn’t cost a mid-season penny.

“And, with Martin Boyle back and firing at his best levels, Hibs have gone from being blunt to having two big-hitters spearheading their attack. Bowie has got all the tools.

“It must have been a massive frustration to manager David Gray that he ended up sidelined for such a lengthy period having made such a sharp start to his career at Easter Road.

“It was seen as a strong signing at the time when he was signed from Fulham. There had been glowing reports from his work with Scotland’s Under-21 side and there was enough evidence in his opening four games to suggest Hibs had found a right good one.

“Then, typical of the way things were going in the opening weeks of the campaign for Gray and his squad, Bowie was slammed on to the sidelines with a serious hamstring issue.

“The timing could not have been any worse and, with Boyle not at his best, it was hard to see where goals were coming from. No harm intended to Mykola Kuharevich, but he was not the answer and, although Nicky Cadden was doing a fair job chipping in to help, Hibs needed more.

“No question, there was a spell through October and November where you simply couldn’t see in some games where one was coming from. With the defence giving goals away for fun, it was a recipe for disaster and so it proved.”

Boyle and Bowie threat

Boyle’s Hibs resurgence has now seen him hit 12 goals this season after six in his last three games and he has been playing in attacking with another talent in Elie Youan.

Bowie coming back into the mix is a huge fillip, says McManus, and enough to strike fear into defences across Scotland.

He added: “From having limited options, Hibs could now have two real star-turns in the ranks in Bowie and Boyle.

“I spoke in last week’s column about the resurgence of Boyle, and another couple of goals at the weekend against Clydebank in the Scottish Cup just showed how valuable he can be. Every game at that stage of the competition is tricky and can cause a potential problem.

“Boyle scoring inside a couple of minutes took away any notions of a shock, not that there would have been much given the outstanding run that the team is on.

“The sight of Bowie making his way on to the park was another massive boost and I am genuinely excited about him.

“From being dull and uninspiring, the fans can see chances being created, and the ball hitting the back of the net and it gives everyone a lift.

“Bowie, if he maintains the signs which he saw when he first went into the side, is only going to add to that.”