McGivern hopes for Hibs debut Northern Ireland international Ryan McGivern is determined to seize the opportunity when handed his chance with Hibernian, but knows he may have to be patient. McGivern signed on loan from Manchester City at the end of the summer transfer window and joined up with his Hibs team-mates for the first time on Thursday following international duty. The 22-year-old appreciates he is far from certain to make his debut against Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday as the capital club seek to extend a four-match unbeaten run. "I'm really excited. I'm glad to be here and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in now," said McGivern, whose loan deal runs until January. "It's going to be hard. I'm not expecting to go straight into the team. The team's done really well at the start of the season and I've got to earn my right to get in the team. "Hopefully when the time comes I can do the stuff. I'm a left-back naturally and I can play left-sided centre half. "I do like to get forward and hopefully I can bring a little bit of attack within the back four and get up and down and give the fans something to cheer about." McGivern is optimistic Hibs' recent run of form will continue. "Kilmarnock are a decent team, they won the league cup last season and I know the manager (Kenny Shiels) as well," McGivern added. "Hopefully being at home we can get the right result and keep the unbeaten run going." Hibs flirted with relegation last season, but after a first summer under manager Pat Fenlon appear revived. McGivern, who won his 17th cap in Northern Ireland's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Luxembourg earlier this month, added: "We're joint second at the minute. "Hopefully we can use that as a platform and kick on between now and the end of the season." McGivern, who made his international debut against Scotland four years ago, has had loan spells at Morecambe, Leicester, Walsall, Crystal Palace and Bristol City and remains uncertain where his future lies. "I'm just concentrating on getting games under my belt, doing well for Hibs and helping Hibs in the SPL," he added. Cillian Sheridan hopes Kilmarnock's style of play can help him improve his goal tally. The striker could make his debut for Kilmarnock on Saturday after moving to Rugby Park from CSKA Sofia. The former Celtic and Motherwell forward, who was close to signing for Hibs last summer, chose Killie despite having what manager Kenny Shiels said were more lucrative offers from other SPL clubs. Those offers came despite what Sheridan admitted himself was a disappointing goal return in his season loan at McDiarmid Park last term. The Irishman scored four goals in three games a year ago but was soon troubled by a hamstring injury and ended the season with a tally of five in 32 appearances. Sheridan, who has signed for two years, said: "I need to score more goals. Last year I was doing a lot of hard work and playing a lot of games but I just didn't have the goals to go with it. "That's one of the worst things when you finish a season and you have been playing so many games, and have such a small number of goals. "That's the main thing I need to work on and hopefully at this club I can do that." Sheridan added: "I had a chat with manager before I signed and was excited about what he said. "When you know how keen a manager is to get you in, it helps you make your decision. "I had a few SPL options but I was excited about what I heard. "He said the style of play would suit me, and when he is so keen, that really can sway things. "But he wants someone up top to finish all their passing. "I like to make runs and I think they have got midfielders that can pick them out." Sheridan signed for Kilmarnock last week after cancelling his contract with CSKA. "When I first went over it was good and then we ended up having to agree to part ways," he said. "It was in the best interests of both of us. "When I went back over to Bulgaria I was looking forward to it but things didn't work out. "When things don't go your way you want to get back to something you know, so it was a bit of a relief."
Source: PA
