Emi’s arrival ‘a huge surprise’, says McGeady
Aiden McGeady claims the word from the Hibs dressing room is they can’t believe one of their January signings is actually a Hibee, writes Ben Banks.
Emiliano Marcondes has made an instant impression since arriving on loan from Bournemouth till the end of the season. He has netted twice – one in a 1-1 derby draw with Hearts – but his overall play with the ball has impressed fans. He is out of contract at the Cherries in the summer.
Fans will no doubt be keen to see him stick around and former winger McGeady – who left Hibs last summer after joining in 2022 and is now with Ayr United – insists he’s been told that some inside the dressing room can’t quite believe Hibs managed to snap Marcondes up.
He told BBC Scotland: “They definitely have a few better players in. The players they brought in during January have definitely helped which has been a big boost. Marcondes, from the players I have spoken to, they are saying they don’t know how they have managed to get him. Technically he is that good.”
But while Nick Montgomery’s side are chasing down a top-six finish in the Premiership, McGeady doesn’t think such a placement would be cause for jumping up and down in delight.
“I don’t think it is, said the former Celtic and Ireland star. “It was almost celebrated last season when we made the top six and I was like ‘I don’t think that’s success. Look how far ahead of us Hearts and other teams are.’
“Listen, I was part of that as well but you look around and think Hibs, with the size of the club and budget, should be right up there. Last season we snuck in on the last day and this season you change manager and it’s more of the same.
“It’s almost ‘when is the trend going to stop and when is it going to be Hibs are challenging Hearts every season for third and fourth along with Aberdeen?’ That's the concerning thing for me having been there last season, the things I see.
“You get a couple of good results and then it’s back to a defeat, a defeat, a defeat. And then you look at the table and you’re thinking ‘How are Hibs not in the top six, or just in the top six by way of winning and the [Dundee] game being called off?’ It’s concerning.”