£10m valuation has helped Rocky realise his worth to Leith cause
Words of encouragement from Johnson have boosted Bushiri
Even the most optimistic Hibernian supporter would not have envisaged defender Rocky Bushiri being described as a £10million defender.
That was the value manager Lee Johnson placed on the 23-year-old recently, probably partly to highlight the improvements the Belgian has made to his game this season.
Bushiri is grateful for those encouraging words and such is his importance to the team that the centre-back is now regarded as a regular ahead of today’s derby clash at Hearts.
That was not always the case, however. Bushiri came in for criticism for his performances last season as the Leith side, under the tutelage of Shaun Maloney and then David Gray, finished the campaign in eighth place.
eyebrows were then raised when it emerged that Hibs were contractually obliged to convert his loan from norwich City into a permanent deal after he triggered an appearance clause.
‘It’s nice words from the manager,’ said Bushiri. ‘We have been working hard, going back to Portugal during pre-season.
‘He has been straight with me since day one about what I need to do better and how he wants to use me in the team. I think you can see it in his philosophy how he can use me to help other players be more free on the pitch. It’s a boost.
‘every manager has a different philosophy and it depends on the system you play. I’ve enjoyed this system more, playing in a three or a four centrally, whereas before I played on the right-hand side. It all depends on the system.’
Bushiri managed 15 appearances for Hibs last season after joining a year ago on temporary terms from the Canaries.
However, the former Belgium Under-21 internationalist insists part of the reason he initially struggled was due to lingering injuries he was recovering from.
He added: ‘I came here after long injuries, so I was restarting things. I had a chance in the summer to work on those things and that has helped me to settle well this season.
‘It’s hard when people are judging you right away but you need to accept it. They’re coming to the stadium and want the team to do well. ‘We’re in sport where we get exposed and need to accept things but it’s up to you how you take it. ‘I knew I signed for three years. You want to show a reaction back and say: “Okay, guys, let me give you something back so we can all go in the same direction”. ‘I’ve worked on it and it’s in the past. now we can look forward.’ Hibs go into today’s derby at Tynecastle struggling for form on the back of eight defeats from their last ten league games.
Bushiri (left), however, is adamant Johnson’s team can shrug off those results and emerge victorious at the home of their fierce rivals.
‘It’s all going to be about mentality,’ he said. ‘It will be a physical game, a good test.
‘We are there physically and I don’t think there will be much of a game plan for both teams. It will be about periods of being on top.
‘Also, because we have been hurt in our results, it will be a big boost if we go there and win.’
The edinburgh foes will also lock horns in the Scottish Cup at easter Road on January 22 and Bushiri insists three points today would tee them up nicely for that tie.
He added: ‘It is two different things, cup and league. If you win in the league, it will give you a big boost for the cup but every game is different. Some players are back from injury and will have more minutes. It’s a different approach.’
Meanwhile, Hibs boss Johnson admits he is thrilled to have Aiden McGeady back fit after revealing there were concerns that the experienced winger might have to retire.
The 36-year-old made his comeback from nearly five months out with a recurrence of a medial ligament tear in December’s defeat at Rangers and also came off the bench in Wednesday’s home loss to Celtic.
The former Celtic, everton and Republic of Ireland playmaker is unlikely to start today’s clash at Hearts as he works his way back to fitness. However, Johnson, who was McGeady’s manager at Sunderland, is just delighted to have him available following a long lay-off.
Johnson said: ‘Certainly, 100-per-cent, he is usable now and I’m actually quite pleased and proud of him in that sense.
‘It was looking touch and go if he would make a comeback at his age. So, he has worked extremely hard and deserves his place in the squad but, at the same time, we can’t just think about one player, we have to think of the team dynamic.’
Asked whether McGeady would be fit enough to start at Tynecastle as Hibs chase their first derby win in eight outings, Johnson added: ‘That is a million-dollar question. If you speak to Geads, he will probably say: “Yes, I am ready”.
‘But I’m not 100-per-cent sure because he is still getting nips, although that is wearing off after five or six minutes, after a shot or cross.
‘It is the Catch 22. You can only really get match fit by playing matches but, at the same time, I have got to win football matches and sometimes I want him to come on when the game has opened up a little bit and it is not so much blood and guts.’