Newell settled at Hibs and relishing challenge of facing champions
It took a while for Joe Newell to get his Hibs career going and although he has blossomed this term, the midf i elder says he has yet t o wring the best out of his stay in the capital.
Which is why he does not anticipate any hiccups at his end when it comes to penning a new contract with the club, as he looks to extend his stay beyond the summer.
“I have loved my time here so far and the gaffer has come in and shown his trust in me and I have really enjoyed it,” said the Englishman.
“I f any t hing, Covid has ruined it a bit for me so far and i n my 18 months up here I have not really had the chance to experience the city as well as the club, on and off the pitch because of not having the fans in.
"So, when the conversations come round, there will be no problems. We will try to get it sorted.”
Working together to find the best way for ward has served Newell and his current boss Jack Ross well.
After a difficult first season in Leith, the midfielder has been given a new lease of life by Ross, and Newell’s displays i n t he middle of the park have been hugely influential as Hibs quickl y f ound t heir way t o t he higher echelons of the Premiership.
Having suffered very few blips, the team’s mettle was tested i n recent weeks as defeat by Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi- final knocked them off kilter.
T h a t wa s f o l l o we d b y another di s appointment against Aberdeen, as t he Leith side suffered their first back- to- back losses of the season.
But bouncing back against Dundee last weekend, Newell says the players are relishing the opportunity to welcome defending champions Celtic to Easter Road this afternoon.
“That was a tough week overall. We were all in a bit of a rut after the Hearts game, there was a bit of a hangover really.
"But, we have a bit of confidence back after the Dundee game and these are the kind of games you want t o be involved in.”
Despite the Glasgow side’s d o mest i c d o mi n a n c e i n recent years, Hibs’ form in t he home head- t o - heads has been decent. Add that to their display against Rangers earlier in the campaign and Newell says there is plenty self- belief in the Hibs dressing- room.
“I didn’t play against them at home last year but you have to be resolute against them, you have to be well organised, take your chances when they come and stay in the game,” he explained.
"You have to be confident in your own team and the way you want to play. You have to believe in your game- plan and the way the manager sets you out. It is a mixture of a lot of things.
“To get a good result against a good team, you have to do a lot of things well, which we are capable of. Hopefully that’s what happens.
“The f act t hat we came from behind in that game [ against Rangers], the character shown, we take a lot of confidence from that. We know we are a good team and have good players and a good squad so while, on any given day, they can cause us problems, they know that about us as well.”