MY FAMILY USED TO BE ON THE DARK SIDE... NOW WE’RE ALL HIBS DAFT!
Doig crossed the capital’s great divide and is eager to repay club with derby win
JOSH DOIG watched on with a mixture of hilarity and relief as Hibs’ latest signing Demetri Mitchell renounced his previous allegiance to Hearts. In a mock interrogation scene, the former Manchester United loanee was urged to dismiss his spell on the other side of Edinburgh, the club’s light-hearted social media clip taking the sting out of any ambivalence the Hibernian fans might feel towards the new arrival.
Doig, too, used to play in maroon albeit at youth level and has enjoyed a similar conversion since moving across the city in 2020.
And so he enters Tuesday’s Edinburgh derby — his first in front of a packed Easter Road — thrilled by the prospect of competing in green.
He said: ‘Being from Edinburgh, I know the importance of these games — it’s the biggest game in the world for me.
‘It’s massive for Hibs and the whole team is buzzing for it. There’s a great energy about the group just now, we just want to get to Tuesday and play.
‘The family have all converted to Hibs, too. We used to be on the dark side but now we’re all Hibs daft!
‘The way the club treated me when I came in here made us fall in love with Hibs. I’m a changed man, for the better. But I dodged a bullet by not having to do a video like Demetri’s the other day. He wasn’t too happy with that!’
As match-going Hibs fans were already aware, the spring is well and truly back in Doig’s step.
For a few months it looked as if the 19-year-old might be consumed by second-season syndrome but he rediscovered his form and enthusiasm after a troubled few months that left his head ‘scrambled’.
Last year’s Scottish Football Writers’ Association young player of the year, Doig set a high bar in his breakout season and attracted suitors from south of the border.
The subject of transfer interest from Watford and Burnley, Doig was left out of a European qualifier against Rijeka last August as then manager Jack Ross admitted it was ‘highly likely’ he would move on.
Those enquiries led to nothing and the later, sudden sacking of Ross the week before December’s League Cup final did nothing to settle the situation down.
‘I tried to stay away from all the speculation but we were led to believe that I was going,’ he says. ‘The next thing it wasn’t happening and my head was absolutely scrambled. It was a new experience and I probably struggled with it. It was hard, but I am grateful I’m still here because I absolutely love this place.
‘I know it will probably happen again in my career, but I’ll know what to do — stay away from my phone and my pals, ignore it all and focus on football.
‘I have full trust in Ben (Kensell) and Ron (Gordon) and what they want to do. Transfers are exciting and it can be daunting but no matter where I am, if I’ve got a foot on the ball, I’m good.’
Fortunately, new manager Shaun Maloney arrived with a plan for the youngster.
A formation that encourages the back three to hold the line while the wingbacks bomb forward has very much been to his liking.
‘The gaffer has come in with a new system and it allows me to be more free from the left wing-back position.
‘I can get up and down and run my heart out. I’ll run until I fall to the ground
— that’s my style of play. ‘It’s not my first season any more so I have to mature and work out what my playing style is.
‘I haven’t figured it out yet because I’m still learning every day. But I’ve got a smile on my face and I can’t ask for much more.
‘With the rewards I got last season, there was always going to be the question: “Could I go and do it again?”. That was hanging over me.
‘I’m not a young boy any more, I need maturity and composure in my game. ‘I can’t be as hectic this season, trying to impress everybody. I’ve done that already so it’s now about playing every week and doing what the gaffer wants me to do.’
Although he loves the thrill of playing at packed stadiums, Doig is honest enough to admit last season’s closed-door environment probably aided his development.
‘It’s 100 times better to play in front of fans but it was probably easier to come into my first season without them being there. There was no-one there to abuse me on away days and things like that.
‘The difference is ridiculous. Having the fans back at Easter Road helps so much. You feed off all the enthusiasm.
‘Tuesday will be a different story. I’m nervous before any game, I’ve been like that since I was a young boy but you can use that energy.
‘The fans will be more rowdy but it’s just football. For me, it’s the same as playing down the park.’
The colours may have changed, but Doig’s boyish ebullience is undimmed.