Livingston swoop to make Owls winger ninth new arrival
LIVINGSTON have strengthened their attacking options with the capture of Jack Stobbs on loan from Sheffield Wednesday.
The 22-year-old has agreed a deal until January initially but with a further option to extend the agreement for the remainder of the season.
The pacy winger, who can also play as a second striker, has made six appearances for the Yorkshire club since coming through the GARY DICKER says there will be no hard feelings if Greg Taylor departs Rugby Park after accepting that the Scotland defender is destined to ‘outgrow’ Kilmarnock.
The Ayrshire club’s captain is acutely aware of the ongoing speculation linking Taylor with Celtic, while he has attracted reported interest from Skybet Championship side Hull City and the Bundesliga outfit Nurnberg.
Angelo Alessio, the Kilmarnock manager, has made it clear that he has no intention of letting their prize asset go during this transfer window.
Dicker is similarly keen to see Taylor, who made his Scotland debut against Belgium in June, remain in Ayrshire but insists there will be no hard feelings from inside the dressing room.
The Irishman said: “You always want to keep your best players, but people outgrow clubs sometimes.
“People were surprised when Greg started for Scotland but none of the boys at Kilmarnock were because we know what he can do.
“He’s not fazed by much, has a great attitude and doesn’t let things go to his head.
“If he’s here for the season then I’d be delighted but if he does get a big move then I don’t think anyone would begrudge him that, particularly at the age he is.”
Still only 21, Taylor has already made 131 appearances for the club after making his senior debut during the fight for Premiership survival at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
Dicker firmly believes the rollercoaster journey from battling relegation to qualifying for Europe during his time at Rugby Park will steel him for his next challenge – even if that proves to be at Celtic.
Asked specifically how Taylor would handle life in Glasgow, Dicker told the BBC: “He has a good character about him, he’s not shy, he’s confident. He’s not afraid to say stuff in the dressing room or on the training pitch.
“Being here for the last few years when we have been suffering – especially when he first game into the team – was a real challenge for him. He came into the side when we were in the [relegation] playoffs and they were massive games for the club. He handled that situation well and has got better every season.”
Dicker, meanwhile, acknowledges ranks at Hillsborough and also turned out eight times for Port Vale in a four-month spell two years ago.
Stobbs is Livingston’s ninth summer signing and will provide competition for the likes of Steven Lawless, Aymen Souda, Scott Robinson and Chris Erskine in the wide areas.
Souda has begun impressively for the West Lothian club since joining last month but was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s Betfred Cup win over Forfar Athletic and his performance was later described as ‘rubbish’ by manager Gary Holt.
His replacement was Robinson, who was making his first appearance in five weeks following knee surgery.
Holt says the former Hearts striker showed Livingston’s new recruit what is needed to flourish in the
Scottish game.
He said: “I thought wee Robbo coming back in was excellent in the second half. He gave us a real impetus and an energy. Aymen was getting caught on the ball too often and he’s got to be aware that teams aren’t going to say ‘Aymen Souda is a good player, we better leave him on the ball’.
“It was good, physical, aggressive Scottish football and he needs to be aware of that, that it’s going to happen in every single game.
“Robbo coming on will highlight that. His work-rate, his effort, his tenacity certainly gave us a foothold in the game in the second half.”