New Hibs man Maolida out to topple Rangers
Myziane Maolida has been backed to continue his career revival with a stand-out performance in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarterfinal – and underline his credentials as a ‘big game player’, writes John Greechan.
Maolida has scored four goals from just six starts in green-and-white, the January signing impressing as a left-winger capable of driving into the centre forward position
– or starting through the middle.
Boss Nick Montgomery declared: “He’s definitely a big game player. Because he’s a top player.
“Kilmarnock away, two weeks in, a game where we’ve played really well but conceded two poor goals, we needed to get back into game. If you can come on against Kilmarnock away, on a plastic pitch, and do what he did by scoring a great goal there, if you can do it against Dundee at home, that’s a top player. Not just about doing it in the big games but doing it in every single game.
“He’s a player you can give the ball and know that something is going to happen. And he’s very unselfish, as well.”
Maolida made his Hibs debut against Rangers in January, looking completely off the pace in makeshift starting XI swept aside by three goals to nil at Easter Road. Monty admitted that he had no option but to throw the former France Under-21 forward in at the deep end, acknowledging: “We were saying to him: ‘Look, this is one of the best teams in the league. You’re not fit. But we’re going to throw you in. And we’re going to keep playing you until you get fit.’ He has improved every day in training.
“If you see the goal he scored against Ghana, for Comoros, when you see a player of that ability, why couldn’t he come to Hibs and be a success? We waited until the last week of the window; we were patient. When it became a reality, I knew if we got him in and gave him a couple of weeks, he was going to be a real player for us.
“His attitude has been outstanding. He needed a home. He needed a bit of love. And he needed to be around a group of players where he felt comfortable.”