We need to talk about Kevin
Kevin Nisbet scored a hat-trick for Hibs as they blew Livingston away yesterday. This is his third, from the penalty spot, which earned him the match ball (inset).
Steven Lawless is determined to fill the boots of old pal Jamie Murphy at Burton Albion after the Rangers star’s endorsement helped to seal his switch south.
Lawless, 29, penned a one-year deal with the League One promotion hopefuls after leaving Livingston earlier this summer, with Brewers boss Jake Buxton revealing that Murphy gave him rave reviews.
The duo were on the books together at Motherwell and have remained firm friends since.
And Murphy was similarly complimentary about life at Burton when Lawless came to him for advice.
Lawless now faces the challenge of living up to Murphy’s hype, as well as helping to replace the seven goals in 12 appearances the Ibrox wide-man scored on loan at the Pirelli Stadium last term.
He said: “Murph came through a few years ahead of me at Motherwell so I’ve known him for a long time.
“I phoned him to say thanks for giving me a good scout report to the gaffer!
“He replied saying: ‘Well I couldn’t tell him what you were actually like, could I?’
“So now I just need to live up to that. “We’re quite similar players, in the sense we both started as strikers then drifted out to the wing, even if he’s had a better career than me!
“They are big shoes to fill.”
The winger added: “He was absolutely flying when he came down here and, because he’s a mate, I was
keeping track of him and the club.”
As well as getting the lowdown from Murphy, Lawless was able to pick the brains of his former Partick Thistle team-mate, Ryan Edwards, who was a revelation in his debut season with Burton last term.
The tireless midfielder scored seven goals in 44 appearances after joining the club from Hearts.
Lawless continued: “Ryan really hit the ground running down here and is someone I asked about the club.
“He got a brilliant goal return last year and really kicked on after the move.
“So that’ll be something I’ll look to replicate.
“We’ve kept in contact and he’s a brilliant guy whose opinion I would trust. He spoke highly of the club, which meant I had that reference before coming down and talking to the gaffer. I was already keen.”
This move represents a first foray outside the borders of Scotland for the ex-Livi, Partick, Albion Rovers and Motherwell man.
Lawless is coming off the back of a sensational campaign with the Lions, notching 11 goals and eight assists in 38 appearances as Gary Holt’s men secured a fifth-place finish, and recently had his third child.
And he is adamant the circumstances were perfect for a long-awaited crack at England.
Lawless added: “I’ve played my full career in Scotland, going up against the same teams and a lot of the same players, for my whole career.
“I wanted to experience something new and this felt like the right time.
“It was a big decision for the whole family but my wife made things really easy and was excited about the adventure too.”