Allan feels settled at Hibs after years as an outsider
Scott Allan admits he’s only ever wanted to feel appreciated.
And six months into his third spell at Hibs he has found what he was searching for.
A football home where he feels appreciated by his club and the fans and where everything just seems to click together.
It’s a relief for Allan after enduring four years as an outsider at Celtic.
The midfield was punted out on loan three times at Parkhead and made just 13 appearances for the Hoops.
It did little to make him feel he was ever really wanted. So it’s third time lucky for him at Hibs after returning to Easter Road on a three-year deal.
Allan admits it’s the best he has felt in years – and he’s finally getting a run of games that is bringing out his best.
After recharging his batteries on the Costa Del Sol at Hibs’ winter training camp, Allan took time to reflect on his fortunes.
The 28- year- old said: “It’s definitely the most settled I’ve been in a good few years
“The fact I’m playing football every week and have a good association with the club is just brilliant for me.
“It’s the only place I’ve been given a fair run of games to produce my best football.
“I have a good connection with the Easter Road fans and they know how I play.
“I maybe get a bit of leeway in certain things but it’s the place I’ve played the most football so I have been able to show that.
“Here we play a certain way that suits me. The fans, the football, it has just clicked.”
It was former Hibs boss Neil L ennon who a g r e ed a pre-contract to bring Allan back to the club last January.
Yet just a month later Lennon was back in the dugout at Celtic as he became Al lan’s new manager at Parkhead.
Lennon’s replacement Paul Heckingbottom was still keen on the player – but he lasted just nine months at Easter Road, with Jack Ross taking the helm in November.
Yet Allan insists he was able to take all the upheaval in his stride, saying: “I wouldn’t say it was unsettling, just the nature of the beast that is football.
“I’ve been through it before, people come and go from clubs, managers and players.
“It’s just the way it is. For me it’s about keeping focus and doing the best I can on the park.”
Hibs made the most of the winter break by training in the Spanish sun in Estepona.
The club are now back from the Costa del Sol and facing a hectic spell of fixtures.
They face Dundee United next Sunday in the Scottish Cup before a home league match with Ha m i l t on t he following midweek and a clash with Motherwel l just three days later.
Before Christmas, Hibs faced Rangers, Hearts and Livingston in just nine days.
Allan doesn’t see the sense in cramming in so many games in December and January, either side of the break, when the weather can be just as unreliable as midwinter.
But having been almost an ever-present under both Hibs managers since the beginning of the campaign, the breather was a welcome one.
He said: “The scheduling probably defeats the purpose because it will start snowing in March and we’ll have games called off!
“But, no, I feel like I’ve played in nearly every game since the start of the season after a year out.
“So I welcomed the break to be honest – a week off then getting in the fitness work while in Spain will prove good for us.”
Allan is looking forward to the Cup clash with United – the club who gave him his pro debut.
Allan joined the Arabs at the age of 10 and progressed through the ranks in the City of Discovery after penning a professional deal in 2008.
His first- team debut came three years later in a 1- 0 Europa League defeat to Polish side Slask Wroclaw.
But he would wear the Tangerine only six more times before leaving for West Brom in January 2012.
This won’t be the first time Allan has gone back to his first club, having been part of the Celtic team that won 4-1 there back in January 2016.
Sunday’s Cup tie, however, has all the hallmarks of a thriller with Robbie Neilson’s side cruising in the Championship.
Allan said: “It will be a tough game and we really need to be ready for it.
“They have played through the winter break and will be up for it against a Premiership side and a club like us.
“They are going well this season at home but we have to be ready for it. It’s a game we are looking forward to.
“It’s a hard tie but I feel if we approach the game right and set out the way we have done in quite a few big games this season we will be f ine. It will be a hard test though.
“It’s a cup tie and we know what the
Scottish Cup means for people at Hibs. If we were to win that tie I am sure it would be a good boost going into the league fixtures.”