Kennedy happy to take the indirect route to Edinburgh

ON-LOAN Hibs winger Matthew Kennedy has revealed that Everton boss Roberto Martinez pulled the plug on a temporary switch to Easter Road in January due to Terry Butcher’s route one football. The 19-year-old joined the Edinburgh club last week on a six-month deal, where he has teamed up with his former Goodison Park youth coach Alan Stubbs. Martinez wants the former Kilmarnock kid to use his time in the Scottish Championship to prove he can be a match-winner for a side committed to entertaining football. By contrast, however, the Everton manager was none too enthused by the agricultural style of play under Butcher, as Hibs tried and ultimately failed, to negotiate a relegation battle. Kennedy revealed: ‘I had the chance to come to Hibs last year but we decided not to because of what was happening then (the relegation trouble) and as they were just kicking the ball up the field. ‘I’ve heard some of the boys say it wasn’t the best last year but now Alan Stubbs is here they are loving it. I came here because I like to play attacking football and that is the way he plays. ‘He (Martinez) wants me to come and learn the game, create chances and be a match winner.’ Kennedy impressed when he came on in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Livingston and now the wide-man hopes to be given the nod for the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle tomorrow. ‘I’ve never played in a derby before but a lot of my dad’s friends are Hibs fans,’ he said. ‘I know a lot of the boys in the Hearts team from the Scotland youth squads and I keep in contact with them on things like Twitter. The slagging has not started yet. But I am sure it will before and after the game.’