Rocky Bushiri has played seven minutes of Premiership for Hibs before November. He is now a key man in a side hoping to reach third spot.
The centre-back couldn’t break into the Hibees team early in the season as they struggled down at the wrong end of the table.
A key component in their turnaround has been David Gray’s switch to a 3-5-2, and Bushiri has been an ever-present in the heart of the back three.
Sure, there have been errors like the ones against Hearts and Rangers. But on the whole he has been a rock at the back, and has also popped up with some big moments.
That includes an assist and an equaliser in that same Rangers game as well as a huge equaliser in similar fashion against Aberdeen.
Gray singled out Bushiri along with Martin Boyle as key men in the team’s resurgence.
The manager had previously praised Bushiri for his resilience in working his was back into the team and getting that moment against the Dons.
But the 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and was thought to be attracting interest during the January window.
Hibs reject Rocky Bushiri offer
It could have been tempting to cash in on a player with months left on his deal when the chance came, but the Hibees stood firm and the DR Congo international remains their player for now.
The Daily Record reported that an offer came in from a “top Belgian side” late on deadline day but the Easter Road rejected the chance to bring in six figures.
It is even claimed the interested party put in one offer on Sunday and then upped it on Monday in an effort to tempt them into selling.
But Hibs see the 25-year-old as a key man and didn’t feel they could bring in a good enough replacement on time.
The report adds that the Leith side are willing to let Bushiri, who also has interest from the Middle East, run his contract down and then leave on a free in the summer.
Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy leave Hibs
Hibs didn’t make any signings on deadline day, leaving Alasana Manneh as their only January signing.
But they were active in letting two go, as out-of-favour pair Luke Amos and Harry McKirdy become free agents.
We revealed yesterday that McKirdy was set to sign for Bromley and his Easter Road exit allows him to do that after the window has closed.
While Amos also agreed a mutual consent departure and is now free to sign for another club.