I hope Nisbet gets a Jac up

Steve Clarke hopes the inclusion of new Scotland striker Jacob Brown can jolt Kevin Nisbet back into top form.

The Hibs frontman is going through a tough spell at Easter Road and has scored just twice in the Premiership so far this season.

Last season the 24-year-old was criticised by former Scotland star John Collins for not working hard enough, which the player claimed was “laughable”.

Clarke has no problems with Nisbet’s attitude but admits he’ll speak with the striker when Scotland’s squad meet ahead of the critical World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Friday night.

And he hopes that the arrival of Stoke City forward Brown can ignite something in Nisbet.

The manager, who watched Brown score the winner for Stoke away to Luton yesterday, said: “Hibs and Kevin have had a tough time of it in the last few weeks.

“They had a great start to the season then have maybe tapered off a little bit.

“Jack Ross will be looking for some positive results and Kevin, as a striker, thrives on goals.

“Will I need to speak to him? I tend to speak to all the players as and when they come in for camp. “I try to gauge where they are. “But Kevin is a good striker, he’s shown that before.

“He’ll still be a good striker even if he’s out of form a little bit. We will find that out in the next 10 days. Kevin has been good with us since he came into the squad and he has taken that place.

“People go off the boil sometimes. Not everyone will be at their top level all the time.

“Kevin played against Moldova last time and did alright. He was involved in our goal.

“By picking him, again that can sometimes help a player. But the fact I have picked another striker in the squad might also help him find an extra gear.

“That’s always the case when you bring a new player in. You hope it adds a bit more sparkle to the players already established.”