Doidge tells Hallberg to produce goods after supermarket sweep
Hibs striker on how he helped pal
HIBERNIAN attacker Christian Doidge has made a fine career out of getting on the end of deliveries. However, he was more than happy to return the favour for team-mate Melker Hallberg in the classy Swede’s hour of need.
Hallberg returned to his homeland to be close to his family when the Scottish football season was called due to the Covid-19 outbreak, training with a local amateur side to maintain his fitness.
And when he received the call to come back to Edinburgh in May ahead of the new campaign, travel guidelines meant he was forced to quarantine for a fortnight.
Thankfully, his close pal Doidge was there to lend a hand, turning personal shopper and bringing ultra-healthy hauls direct to his door.
“Melker was back in Sweden to see his family during the lockdown and got stuck there for a while,” recalled Doidge. “When he came back to Edinburgh he had to selfisolate, so I did the shopping for him and his partner, Elsa.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw their shopping list – I’ve never seen so much healthy food in my life. I was going down the vegetable aisle looking for things I had never heard of!
“To be fair, I think most of it was for his girlfriend. I think it might be a Scandinavian thing. They clearly look after themselves and Melker is the ultimate professional. I didn’t even try to sneak a beer into the order for him because I know he wouldn’t drink it.
“It was no problem – you do that for your mates, especially in that situation. But he owes me a few assists this season.”
Doidge’s focus is back on the onion bag rather than shopping bags.
A slight knee injury restricted him to a substitute appearance in last weekend’s triumph over Kilmarnock, with Martin Boyle stepping seamlessly into an attacking role.
Boyle’s brace has already sparked some healthy competition between the pair and, with the Australia international out of contract next summer, he hopes the waspish wide-man sticks around long enough to back 20 goals.
“It means a lot for Boyler to play for Hibernian and he would never let speculation effect his performances,” continued Doidge. “That showed last week with the two goals. There’s already a competition between me and Boyler.
“He’s a brilliant player for us and I’m just hoping for more of the same, really. Hopefully he scores 20 goals this year.”
Today’s visit to Livingston is also likely to see Doidge start alongside £250,000 summer signing Kevin Nisbet for the first time in a competitive outing – and the former Bolton attacker reckons they could prove a perfect partnership.
“I’ve been really impressed with Kev since he’s come in,” lauded Doidge. “He’s looked really good – a big, strong boy and he’s a real threat in front of goal.”
Meanwhile, Easter Road head coach Jack Ross has confessed that there is no guarantee that he will be allowed to reinvest the £150,000 the club banked for Flo Kamberi’s move to St Gallen this week.
Ross, who refused to comments on speculation linking Hibs with Rangers duo Ross McCrorie and Greg Docherty, added: “In terms of the communication between club senior management and me, it’s open and consistent - I’ve known where we’re at for a long time.
“We’ve had to adjust accordingly due to events, like every club and Flo leaving – with us recouping a fee and freeing up space in our squad – is basically helping us reduce costs for the moment.
“How the senior management then look at what we can do moving forward is up to them.”
I’ve never seen so much healthy food in my life