Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GOOD HAVING A DUKE AT HAZARD
FALKIRK boss Paul Hartley insists there was no way he would have denied on-loan Celtic keeper Conor Hazard his first Northern Ireland call-up.
And he hopes the youngster’s international recognition can strengthen Falkirk’s reputation for his recruitment drive next season. Hazard has won his maiden call-up to Michael O’neill’s squad after making a big impression in the five games he has played for the Bairns.
The 20-year-old (right) will now miss Falkirk’s trip to face league leaders St Mirren as it clashes with his country’s friendly against South Korea a week on Saturday.
But Hartley said: “You can’t really stop someone getting called up for their national team.
“It’s fantastic for Conor. It’s also good for Celtic and for a club like Falkirk, that we’ve got a player getting gametime and getting called up to his national team.
“It’s good for us to show we’re giving young players an opportunity, which they might not get if they were at the bigger clubs, playing development football.”
Meanwhile, Hibs boss Neil Lennon hasn’t given up hope of signing Scott Bain in the summer despite his impressive Old Firm debut for Celtic.
The keeper was lured away from Easter Road within four weeks of joining on loan from Dundee in January.
The Hibees gaffer said: “It was good to see Scott do so well. It was a great experience for him and he handled the occasion very well.
“There is still an interest
[in signing him] and we made sure Scotty realised that before he left.”