Former Hibs captain Ian Murray thinks Easter Road prodigy Josh Doig would be best served staying in Leith and playing regular football instead of heading to England – and insists his “big move will come.”
Doig was linked with the likes of Watford and Arsenal over the summer, with Hibs expecting a deal to have been done to take the left-back south of the border before an unnamed English side changed their plans and left Doig in the lurch.
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Murray believes playing regularly for the Cabbage will help Doig far more than being part of an Academy side in England, admittin that he’s “not so sure” the defender is ready for the Premier League at this stage of his career.
“I’m maybe slightly biased and a bit old school now, but I do believe you need to play a lot of games and Josh is doing that right now,” Murray said.
“I know he was linked with Watford and other teams in the summer. That can really turn a young player’s head.
“I’m of the mantra now that too many young Scottish players are being taken away from their clubs too quickly.
“It’s not going to help them because is Josh Doig ready for the Premier League now? I’m not so sure. But he’s a very good young footballer. He’ll play football at Hibs and his big move will come, I’ve no doubt about it.”
While Doig looked certain to be on the way out of Hibs earlier this summer, Murray admits he was “surprised” at the fees being mentioned for the left-back.
With “life-changing money” on the table, Murray appreciates the task Hibs boss Jack Ross will have faced trying to keep Doig focused on his football as speculation over his future rumbled on.
“I guess I was a little bit surprised when you see the money involved,” Murray added. “They were talking £3-3.5 million. That might not be a lot of money for Watford but it sure is for a club like Hibs.
“It’s also huge, life-changing money for the player as well so it must’ve been extremely hard for Jack to manage to keep Josh’s focus. Although, while I don’t know Josh, from what I’ve heard he’s a really down-to-earth and focused guy.”
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