Source: FOOTYMAD
Responsible Riordan
It is not often your read responsibility and Derek Riordan in the same sentence but fatherhood appears to have settled the striker. Hibs manager John Hughes was full of praise for Derek Riordan as the Easter Road side prepare to start their Europa League campaign. New father Riordan looks to have found a new sense of responsibility on and off the park after being handed the captain's armband for spells during the club’s short pre-season tour of Holland. Riordan’s contract is in it’s final year during his second spell at his boyhood club, and Hughes would relish the opportunity to continue helping the Scotland cap improve. Hughes said: "He has worked ever so hard, I was very impressed with Derek. He's very clever in terms of finding spaces and pockets and there's not many better finishers. If you had seen the free-kick against Nijmegen - I was standing right behind it. He hit it with everything - he got a bit of squiggle on, he got it left to right and in the last 10 yards got the reverse whip on it. He beat him all ends up, it was absolutely fantastic. He was skipper for us a couple of times over there, getting that responsibility. I have always enjoyed Derek as a lad and a player and some of the stuff you see on the training pitch from him is top drawer. Can I make him a better player? 100%" Hughes hinted that moves to extend Riordan’s contract had already begun. However, for now Hughes if fully focused on Thursday’s game, against Maribor in Slovenia. Hughes said: "When you have got players, not just with that quality, but with Hibs running through their veins... That's all in discussion, let's get through the tie. There are more players that I would like to keep at this club. But it works both ways - when their contracts run out, that allows you to shuffle the pack a wee bit. So that's just a wee carrot I'll be dangling in front of them for most of the season." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
