Nisbet has right stuff for boss Ross
HIBS boss Jack Ross believes Kevin Nisbet is closing in on a first Scotland call-up after the striker bagged his side’s winner yesterday at Cove Rangers.
Although Ross admitted that his players, including Nisbet, were below par as they toiled to victory in Aberdeen, he was pleased with the 23-year-old’s match-winning contribution.
Hibs had fallen behind to last season’s League Two champions when Daniel Higgins fired them to into the lead with a splendid free-kick, but the top-flight visitors rallied after half-time and came away with three points in the Betfred Cup group fixture.
Jamie Gullan, brought on at half-time for Drey Wright, scored the equaliser four minutes after the break when he finished off a fine move, but it was Nisbet’s strike that was the highlight of the afternoon.
Watched by a smattering of fans on step ladders outside the Balmoral Stadium, Nisbet’s instinctive half-volley from a quick Melker Hallberg freekick flew over Stuart McKenzie and into the net for his seventh goal of the season.
Hibs were without defenders Paul McGinn and Ryan Porteous for the trip to the Granite City after they were called up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, but, with more international fixtures set to take place next month, Ross is keen to see more of his players representing their country.
He said: ‘Kevin has that ability to score goals, we have seen it countless times in the Premiership since he came to the club. He scores all sort of goals, that’s the thing about him as a striker.
‘He has been terrific since he came to the club and his contribution has been invaluable. I have said it often enough, he’s still got a lot of improvement and growth in him still.
‘I have spoken to Steve Clarke recently with the inclusion of Ryan Porteous and then Paul McGinn going into the squad — and he’s well aware of Kevin’s progress. He knows how well he is doing and the attributes he has, so I don’t think he’s far away.
‘If he continues in the vein he’s in at the moment then he’ll force his way in. There has been a quick shift in dynamic for us because all of a sudden we have found a number of players involved in international duty.
‘For us, the more the merrier because it helps when you are trying to bring players here.’