Source: FOOTYMAD
Hibs sign Garry O'Connor
Scotland striker returns to Easter Road Hibs boss Colin Calderwood has tonight confirmed his second signing of the summer. Ex Hibees striker Garry O'Connor has agreed to come back to the club, and has signed an initial 1-year-deal. O'Connor, 28, left the Hibees for Lokomotiv Moscow in a £1.6m deal in 2006, and done well in the 18 months he spent in Russia. He built up a cult following with Lokomotiv, and scored the winning goal in 2007 Russian Cup Final against city rivals FC Moscow. He scored 17 goals in 41 appearances for the "Railway club" O'Connor then made the move to Birmingham City in the English Premiership, when Steve Bruce splashed out £2.8m to take him to the club. Sadly his time with Birmingham was plagued with injury, he only made 60 appearances in his 4 years with the Brum, scoring 15 goals in the process. During his time with Birmingham, O'Connor was loaned out to Championship Barnsley on two ocassions, during both spells he made a combined 9 appearances and scored 4 goals. When Birmingham released O'Connor in December 2011, Barnsley moved quickly to snap him up, but the move quickly turned sour as O'Connor struggled for form, and he had his contract termintaed by mutual consent in April 2011. O'Connor has also been capped 16 times for Scotland and has scored 4 goals. The hitman has now returned to the Hibees and is delighted with the move, he said: "I'm delighted to be coming back home to play for Hibernian. I'm just so happy at this moment in time - this is where it all began for me. "Ever since I left to go to Russia, I've always wanted to return at some point and I cannot wait to play at Easter Road again. "I'm really excited about what I can achieve with Hibernian and I'm aiming to repay the faith shown in me from the manager by scoring goals and helping the team to succeed. "Hibernian is a special club with phenomenal supporters - they gave me my big break in the game and now I want to give them something back." Calderwood has already secured the return of Ivan Sproule to the club, and has all but sealed a deal with 6ft 3in MK Dons centre half Sean O'Hanlon, as his summer re-building job at Easter Road continues. WELCOME HOME GARRY!
