Tait hopes to convince Maloney of his worth
Ross signing sets sights on Hibs spot under new boss
HIBERNIAN summer signing Dylan Tait said he was unsure if he would be in Shaun Maloney plans after he replaced Jack Ross as manager.
The 20-year-old midfielder was signed by Ross in the summer before being loaned back to Raith Rovers until now. The former Sunderland and St Mirren boss was then let go by the Easter Road side last month ahead of December's Premier Sports Cup final.
Hibs subsequently replaced him with Belgium national team assistant coach and former Celtic forward Shaun Maloney.
Tait concedes it was a slight disappointment to only be applauded off by the curtailed crowd of 500 – who did their best to show their appreciation – after his final appearance for the club in their 0-0 draw with Dunfermline in Sunday's Fife derby at Stark's Park.
"I wish all the fans were here,” he said. “It would have made it even better, it's so different when there are only 500 [fans].
“But for the fans that clapped me off at the end, I appreciate that a lot. It means a lot to me.
The Glasgow-born midfielder is however looking forward to getting started at his new club: "I wasn't sure if the new manager would want me there or not, but that's football, people move on, and I've moved on from here,” said Tait.
“I have a new manager now who I just need to impress.
I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait to get started.”
He has already had contact with Maloney and has been backed by his now-former boss John McGlynn to excel. The player is under no illusions about the step-up and has already had a taste of what is required.
"It's challenging and different to what I'm used to,” he said, “but now I've trained with [Hibs] most Mondays and Tuesdays since I've signed, so I'm used to it now and really enjoying it.”
He has though, unfortunately, already had one slight setback ahead of his move. “I was meant to be going to Dubai on Sunday but that's even cancelled, so I'm stuck in the cold,” he laughs.
One player on the receiving end of so-called McGlynn-ball was Dunfermline screener
Dan Pybus, as Raith flooded the midfield with a diamond formation. He and the rest of John Hughes' side withstood the challenge and were unlucky not to win the match with several chances of their own.
“As a team we were much better, we've been shipping goals, so it's nice to get a clean sheet,” said Pybus, the former
Sunderland youth who signed from Queen of the South in the summer. The 24-year-old has rarely appeared under manager John Hughes and made his first start since the 4-2 defeat to Arbroath in October.
“The manager has never said I'm not part of the plans,” said Pybus. “He's been happy with me. I've always come in with the right attitude to working hard and for whatever reason sometimes you don't play.
“We are in a situation at the bottom when everyone is needed and everyone is going to get a chance.”