Former Cats boss eager to keep Nisbet despite Sunderland interest

Hibernian boss Jack Ross is keen to retain the services of striker Kevin Nisbet – despite rumoured interest from Sunderland.

The Black Cats have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who has scored 12 goals in 26 appearances this term.

Such form has naturally attracted interest, with Sheffield United among the sides also reportedly keen on Nisbet. And Ross says he isn’t surprised to see clubs such as his former employers linked with moves for his in-form frontman – but says something special would be required to seal a deal for Nisbet.

“It goes with the territory when you are having a good s ea s o n , you ac c e pt tea m s looking at your players,” said Ross, speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News.

“I would be amazed if people don’t look.

“But I wouldn’t want to lose him, full stop, and I would expect that, for those in senior management, it would need to be something that would turn their heads because we have to balance it out with what he has contributed and the value he gives us on the pitch.

"The goals he has scored, the level of performances.

“I think when you feel like you are building something that so far has produced but you think can be even better, then you don’t want to disrupt that. But, experience has taught me it can happen.

"The good thing is our stability as a club means there is no real pressure on us to do that. There may come a time in the future when the club has a decision to make.

"For the moment I don’t think we want to disrupt what we have, but strengthen it.”

N i sb et wa s a su m m e r signing for the Easter Road outfit, having joined from Dunfermline in the summer for a fee of around £250,000.

*Grant McCann will be without three key players when Hull City travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday night.

The game has been hastily re-arranged after initially being postponed on Boxing

Day, with Covid-19 outbreaks ac ro s s th e d iv i s io n g iv i n g both teams an unexpected break in their schedule.

McCann will be without centre-back Jordy de Wijs and winger Martin Samuelsen for the game, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The Hull boss could also be without Keane Lewis-Potter, the prodigious forward who has made a major impression so far this season.