I had to stay away from top-notch Gogic in training in case he crocked me
HIBS THE EASTER ROAD ENFORCER FRIENDLY FIRED UP
BY FRASER WILSON
JAMES KEATINGS spent a year avoiding Alex Gogic in training for fear of coming a cropper.
Whether it was elbows, studs or foreheads flying into challenges, the Cypriot warrior knew exactly how to keep his Hamilton team-mates on their toes.
His driving force, Keatings believes, is one of the main reasons Accies have maintained their position as a Premiership team since his arrival in Scotland four years ago.
And the forward, now at Inverness, has no doubt that unflinching will to win will have the same positive impact on Hibs.
Gogic made the switch to Easter Road last week under freedom of contract as Jack Ross beat St Mirren to the 26-year-old’s signing.
Keatings reckons Ross has landed a gem who will finally fill the midfield anchor man void left by Marvin Bartley over a year ago.
And such is the hole left behind by Gogic in South Lanarkshire, he reckons Accies could need TWO players to replace him.
Keatings said: “Alex is top notch. He is nothing less than 100 per cent in everything that he does.
“It was the same in training. I tended to stay away from him!
“He is full-on and never lays up. He’ll go through a challenge if he sees one no matter if it’s at Celtic Park, Ibrox or the training field. That’s exactly the type of character you need.
“He would elbow you, stamp on your foot or something just to make sure you weren’t getting away from him.
“But it’s nothing sinister, he is just a winner, a warrior, an old school player. He has a bit of everything to his game and is definitely a top signing for them.
“You look at Marvin Bartley and the way he sits in front of the back four and breaks up play.
“Alex has that to his game and will do a similar job. I saw a few people saying last season that Hibs were missing Marvin for that role. Alex is a top signing and will go on and do well. “He is a powerhouse in the middle of the park but can play centre half too. “He does most of his work off the ball and picks up good positions but can find a pass as well and even chips in with the odd goal.” Keatings knows what it’s like to go from Hamilton to Hibs – albeit he went via Hearts in 2015.
He made 72 appearances in two years at Easter Road, helping them win the Championship, and feels Gogic is in for a shock at the size of the club.
But he has also backed Hamilton to cope with their loss and rebuild – because that is what they do best.
He said: “Hibs are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland and outside the Old Firm are probably the third-biggest club in the country alongside Aberdeen and Hearts.
“So it’s a big step up for Alex in that context. The only difference playing wise is that
Hibs are on the front foot most of the time, they want to go and attack teams.
“It’s a massive loss for Accies. It could take two players to fill the role he carried out.
“You saw in games last season – live games on TV. Against Rangers and Celtic away you saw just how big a player he was with his determination, work ethic and battling qualities.
“But if there’s one club used to losing their best players and rebuilding then it’s Hamilton.
“You can’t knock them. They do it every season –finding players and rebuilding.
“I don’t expect anything else from them next season, they will keep battling on.”
HIBS will ramp up their preparations ahead of the big Premiership kick-off on August 1 with two more bounce games against top flight opposition this week.
The Hibees took on St Mirren at their East Mains training base last Saturday, playing out a 1-1 draw after the Scottish government gave the go-ahead for games to take place under strict social distancing.
Now they will face the other Saints when they travel to Perth to play St Johnstone today.
On Saturday, Ross County will make the trip south to play Jack Ross’ men at HTC with the competitive action just two weeks away.