Junior Hoilett has explained how his move to Hibs from Aberdeen in the summer came about.
The Canadian international penned a one-year deal at the beginning of August with the Easter Road side having moved to Scottish football earlier in the year.
That was with the Dons when Neil Warnock recruited Hoilett as a free agent. Warnock, of course, didn’t last too long in the Pittodrie dugout but Hoilett remained and performed well until the end of the season.
Craig Samson was Aberdeen’s goalkeeper coach at the time before he moved to Hibs when David Gray was made manager.
And it was Samson’s switch south to Edinburgh that convinced Hoilett to move in the same direction after the ex-stopper had given the winger a glowing appraisal to Gray.
Craig Samson influential in Hoilett’s Hibs transfer
As quoted in The Scotsman, Hoilett explained: “He (Samson) just told me everything about the manager and his plans moving forward. What he wants to get out of the season and what I can bring to the team is appealing to me.
“Working with Sam, I know what he’s about, his energy around the building. It’s something I want to be a part of.
“We have a talented squad here, great staff, great manager. We have the ability to kick on. We had a rough start to the season but we’re going to put that behind us and take each game in our stride to get to three points and progress.
“I’m a calm character on and off the field and I think that’s what I can bring to the team. Especially with my experience to help settle the game in moments, to get a breather in every group and go again.
“I think that’s just my style of play, to see the bigger picture and use my experience as well. Especially with young Rudi (Molotnikov) and we have Elie (Youan), a lot of young players here.
“I thrive off bringing my knowledge and help other players to reach their potential and progress day in, day out and get better.
“When I was younger I had elders that helped me progress and get better and I just want to pass on my knowledge to the youth.”
Hoilett still searching for Hibs momentum
Disappointingly for Hoilett, he has only made one appearance for Hibs so far this season – not exactly the start he would have been hoping for.
That’s because he suffered a hamstring injury and missed all of the Premier Sports Cup clashes and the first four Premiership games of the season.
His debut came in the Hibees’ victory against St Johnstone a couple of weeks ago as the experienced former Blackburn Rovers and QPR star was handed a 45 minute run out.
He’ll now be eager to kick on and show the Hibs fans why he was brought to the club in the first place.