Jair Tavares was sent out on loan to Motherwell on transfer deadline day but the Hibs winger isn’t exactly benefitting from the move.
The former Benfica youngster wasn’t in Hibs manager David Gray’s plans for the current season and was told to find a new club.
Motherwell took a chance on him but Tavares has played only 92 minutes for the Steelmen across five games.
All of his appearances have came off the bench and he was handed just a minute of action last Saturday as Motherwell lost to Ross County.
Stuart Kettlewell explains Tavares lack of minutes
But Fir Park boss Stuart Kettlewell has explained why his game time has been so limited and still feels Tavares can show what he can offer this season.
Kettlewell said of Tavares, who won’t be able to play against parent club Hibs on Saturday: “Jair has, at times, trained really, really well.
“His opportunity has been limited for one reason or another. It might be that players ahead of him that have had that opportunity have done well.
“We brought him in because of his pace. We brought him in because he can be direct, and he can take on the opponent. He can eliminate the opponent. That’s what we’ve seen in him.
“He’s trained well again this week. He’s been a wee bit stop-start by not being able to play against Hibs when we won at Easter Road earlier in the season, which has an effect, and an illness which took him out for a period of time as well.
“It has been a wee bit stop-start. Hopefully, we get this game out of the way and he’s another one that gets an opportunity to go and show what he’s about.”
Who else did Hibs send out on loan?
In short, quite a lot of players. However, most are youngsters receiving valuable game time to develop themselves.
14 players were sent out on loan during the summer including Rory Whittaker, Dylan Vente, Allan Delfierriere and more.
Vente – who cost Hibs around £700k in 2023 – is the most experienced of the loanees and has scored three goals in 12 league games for PEC Zwolle so far this season.