Newell brushes off the boo boys and Brum banter
Midfielder determined to prove his worth in Leith
JOE Newell spent last season being ‘battered’ by disappointed supporters and this summer shrugging off his team-mates’ unforgiving brickbats, but is determined there will be nothing but compliments when the new campaign kicks off against Kilmarnock.
Twelve months ago, the Englishman was one of a handful of signings who failed to impress on their arrival from south of the border under then manager Paul Heckingbottom, with the 27-year-old confessing their form warranted criticism.
Whilst Newell was joined by Christian Doidge and Adam Jackson in turning things around under current boss Jack Ross, Chris Maxwell and Josh Vela departed in January and Tom James has since been deemed surplus to requirements. Newell is eager to ensure he continues winning over any remaining doubters.
“We got battered, yes,” said the former Rotherham midfielder when asked about last year’s flak. “But we were not good enough, so we could not really argue with it. Hecky [Heckingbottom] signed all of us from down south and I don’t think really any of us started playing well, so it was no surprise.
“It was frustrating at first not to be playing very well but I was more frustrated at myself because I just knew I was not playing as well as I could. I can’t really put my finger on why. It was just a slow couple of months to start with at Hibs.
“It has not worked out for a few of the lads who have gone back down to England but the majority of us are settled now. Did I win people over? Maybe, yes, but personally I knew I was playing better than I had been. I was enjoying it.
“I have been here for a year now and I feel a lot better and a lot more at home and comfortable. And I think I’m playing a lot better than I did when I first arrived.”
The jibes of late have been coming the way of the Birmingham City fan from within the Hibs dressing room, but have been more good-natured following Aston Villa’s dramatic escape from the clutches of relegation and his favourites’ questionable decision to ‘retire’ the shirt of departing teenager Jude Bellingham.
“Absolutely devastated,” he admitted when asked about Villa. “I have been abused so much this past week and I wasn’t too happy about that. Paul McGinn [brother of John] has been one of them. They have been absolutely battering me. Then Birmingham decided to retire the number 22 shirt for a lad who has played 40 games. That hasn’t helped my case!”
Hibs, whom Newell insists should be aiming for a top-four finish, will be desperate to get the new season off to the perfect start when they host Kilmarnock but, after an unusual pre-season build-up, Ross has confessed he is unsure what to expect from his players in a deserted Easter Road.
“I have spoken to some other managers and you normally get a feel for where your players are,” he said. “This season, it has been more difficult but I still think there will be that intensity and frenetic nature you get in the opening game.”