DYLAN PROMISE
McGeouch is now putting his best foot forward at Hibs and it’s all down to some tough love from boss Lennon
FIVE years on from handing a teenage Dylan McGeouch his debut at Celtic, Neil Lennon’s patience finally snapped. Frustrated at the midfielder’s constant struggle for fitness and consistency last season, the Hibs boss sat McGeouch down and warned him that his career was in danger of passing him by.
Initially a loan signing for Alan Stubbs, McGeouch moved to Easter Road permanently in 2015 but, although influential when available for selection, he struggled to put together a sustained run of games for the club.
His groin problems persisted after Lennon took over in the summer of 2016 and, where Stubbs might have been inclined to throw out a comforting arm, the Northern Irishman admits he was a little harsher on a young man who had also frustrated him in a previous job as boss of Celtic.
Consequently, he believes McGeouch now stands on the brink of international recognition for Scotland.
‘Dylan looks a lot stronger mentally and physically this year,’ says Lennon. ‘I mean that in terms of his fitness and driving the game for us, taking the ball under pressure, riding challenges.
‘He has always had good feet but you always felt he was getting knocked off the ball, not tracking his runners and at times being a bit of a luxury.
‘But his all-round game now is absolutely superb. And I think psychologically he has got over his injury problems.
‘That’s given a real boost of confidence to him and we are seeing the best of him.
‘There were times when I had him in and had a few stern words with him. I didn’t want the game leaving him behind because he is too good a player for that to happen.’
The 24-year-old resolved to address his issues and sought the counsel and treatment of a London specialist. Lennon and Hibs have enjoyed a thrilling return to top-flight football this season but few things have pleased the Northern Irishman more than the sight of a fit and on-form McGeouch taking charge of the club’s engine room. ‘He is more robust now,’ continued Lennon. ‘He is training intensely every day. He wasn’t doing that last season. Before he would maybe train once or twice a week or at times come off in the middle of a session feeling something. ‘I’m not saying he was doing it deliberately but I was worried it was psychological more than physical. ‘He went to see a specialist to get to the bottom of the issue and whatever has gone on between them there has been a remarkable upturn in his performances and his all-round game. ‘We are picking him regularly and he is becoming reliable, which he wasn’t before.’
Last weekend there was a collective groan at Easter Road as McGeouch fell just 35 minutes into Hibs’ league win over Dundee and was substituted.
‘In the past I’d have been thinking: “Not again”,’ admits Lennon.
‘Fortunately it was just fatigue. I think he just knew it wasn’t right and I trust him on that.
‘That’s another thing, he has gained my trust which he probably didn’t have last year.
‘He has done that through his own hard work and performances.’
Lennon has confirmed the club will soon make an offer to extend McGeouch’s contract and believes he will join John McGinn in the Scotland squad if he maintains his current rich seam of form.
‘The two of them dovetail really well,’ continued Lennon.
‘They are two very good all-round players and the good thing about Dylan is he is taking the ball under pressure and dealing with it.
‘He has always had the ability to go past people. He has soft feet and his weight of pass and vision has improved immensely this season.
‘He is just silky, you know? He makes the game look easy. With all the hurly-burly going on in a game, he can be the one player to get it down and take the sting out of it.
‘But what has impressed me more is his responsibility within the team. He has taken that on.
‘We have asked him to do certain things and he has done it and more. That has pleased me most.’