We could be so good for you
PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM reckons Marc McNulty’s Scotland call-up could convince the striker to stay at Hibs beyond the summer.
The Easter Road boss was thrilled with his striker getting international recognition for the swift impact he has made since arriving in Edinburgh on loan from Reading.
Out of favour at the Championship club, McNulty will be exploring his options at the end of the season and on this form – with six goals from eight appearances – Heckingbottom will explore ways to try to keep him.
Financial constraints may be the biggest hurdle but should the club find the cash to strike a deal with Reading, Heckingbottom reckons the Scotland call-up could convince the player himself to make Hibs his first option. He said: “I’ve given lots of thought to keeping him longer but there are so BY EUAN McLEAN many things involved in that.
“If it was ever viable, it comes down to the player wanting to move as well. That’s a long way down the line yet but Marc understands how good we can be for each other.
“We will continue to keep pushing and improving him. But we may do it to such an extent where we rule ourselves out financially.
“I’ve got used to that over the years, that’s just the way it is – but that’s then the selling point to go and get the next one.
“This is a real opportunity for him so I hope he goes and impresses in training and any game time he gets.
“It’s the recognition for his hard work and performances that proves if you keep doing that people can’t ignore you.
“He is going to have a lot to learn but he is a good footballer. He’s got a good brain on the pitch and he can score goals – right foot, left foot, getting across people for crosses.
“We just have to keep pushing him and reminding him that he’s not the finished article.
“If you stop working you are going to be at the level you are at forever or go backwards. He has to keep striving to get better.”
Without a goal in his last two games against Rangers and Celtic, McNulty will be eager to get back on the scoring form that caught Alex McLeish’s eye when Motherwell visit Easter Road this afternoon.
With Hibs just two points ahead of the seventh-placed Steelmen, this clash will have a major bearing on the battle for a top six finish.
Heckingbottom added: “It’s going to be really big because we started well with the wins and kept the momentum going with a point last Friday.
“We are facing a team that’s in just as good, if not better, form than us so we know how tough it is going to be.
“They may be even more dangerous because they’ll be thinking they are running out of games and may see it as last chance. We have to be ready for that.”