Former Hibs forward Tam McManus says he expected more from loanee Mykola Kukharevych this season.
Kukharevych hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the weekend after Hibs lost 3-0 to Celtic in Glasgow.
The man on loan from Swansea City missed a couple of massive chances in the first-half against the champions that could have saw Hibs two up at the interval.
The Hibees were then left to rue those one-on-one opportunities as Celtic found their mojo and cruised to victory in the end.
McManus said Kukharevych simply had to take those chances in the most difficult fixture of the domestic season and understands he’ll be gutted.
But he believes Kukharevych was a lot more productive for Hibs when he first joined on loan in the 2022/23 season when he netted five goals in 15 Premiership games.
Tam McManus on Mykola Kukharevych
Writing in the Daily Record, McManus said: “You have to have a clear picture in your mind of what you are going to do when you square up to the keeper.
“Kuharevich had several options, he could go round Schmeichel, he could slot it to the near side, go across him, try and nutmeg him.
“There’s so many things running through your head when you run through and you have to choose the right one and be decisive.
But Kuharevich looked like he didn’t really know what he was going to do until it was too late. Some strikers are really composed in that situation.
“Henrik Larsson was the best example. Nine times out of 10 he would bulge the net. It’s an art and, to be honest, I wasn’t great at it either.
“But at Parkhead you simply can’t afford to miss these chances and Kuharevich will be gutted. To be honest I’ve been a bit disappointed in the Swansea hitman since he came back to Easter Road on loan.
“His conversion rate was better in his first spell and, while he’s still getting into good positions, he’s just not producing the goods enough.
“He might pay the price for his misses this Saturday because I reckon if Dwight Gayle had been presented those two chances at Celtic Park then he’d have buried one of them at least.”
Hibs ‘pressure ramping up’
McManus looked ahead to Hibs’ home clash with Ross County on Saturday and said the game is simply a must-win.
He continued: “If they can reproduce the chance creation against Ross County this weekend then they will win the game. I’m certain of it. And they need to.
“A victory will lift them above County and with the way the other games are would also clear Hibs of the relegation zone. Then it would be a case of making sure they don’t go back there.
“County haven’t won a Premiership game on the road for 15 months which is dreadful. They’ve only scored one goal away from home in the league this season.
“It’s a totally different game to last Saturday. Celtic played such a high line that Hibs had lots of joy with their pace in behind. But County, I’d expect, will come and sit and frustrate then try to hit on the counter.
“It’s a dangerous game. The pressure is ramping up and these Hibs players have to show they can handle it. Celtic park is a big occasion. But this is a massive game. And three points is the minimum requirement.”