Nohan: I’ll relish derby and facing Old Firm
NOHAN KENNEH revealed the exciting prospect of Edinburgh derbies and taking on the Old Firm helped convince him to turn his back on Leeds to join Hibs.
Kenneh, 19, spent eight years coming through the ranks at the Premier League club and a new contract was in the offing.
But the midfielder, who arrived in England as a refugee from Liberia aged six, instead decided to take the plunge at Easter Road.
Kenneh said: “The best thing for me was to come and play.
“I had a lot of offers, abroad as well. But in football terms, Scotland is closer in style to England.
“I think physically and tactically I can get better.
“I’m really looking forward to the physicality. It’s one of my attributes, I like to be physical.
“You want to test yourself against people stronger than you – that improves you as a player.
“This will be my first season, hopefully, in senior games. There could be big games – Rangers, Celtic, the Hearts derby. That’s amazing. Those games could only improve me.
“It wasn’t daunting to leave home, it was the right time to leave the family in a good spirit. Time for me to become a man, learn how to cook, see how to live.”
Despite being a rated member of their Under-23s and on the bench for Leeds 14 times in the English top flight last season, he never made a first-team debut.
That played a major role in Kenneh’s decision to join Hibs, who flew out to Portugal yesterday for their training camp.
He added: “I want to play men’s football. I’m not being arrogant, that should be on every player’s mind.
“When the opportunity came with Hibs, it was a no-brainer.”