Hibs boss happy as Matt Done is last signing

Published on 01/02/2013 12:00

HIBS manager Pat Fenlon admitted today that he is happy with the business he carried out in the transfer window after signing Matt Done with just minutes to spare.

Fenlon concluded a deal to bring the Barnsley winger to Easter Road late last night and he believes the Englishman will give Hibs “an extra 
attacking option”.

The 24-year-old comes to Edinburgh on loan from Barnsley until the end of the season and is expected to add pace and goals to the Hibs side.

Fenlon said: “Matt will be a good signing for us and I’m really happy we managed to get this deal completed. He is exactly what we were looking for – a quick, skilful winger with an eye for goal and he will provide us with an extra 
attacking option.

“Matt has already made over 30 appearances at Championship level, but he is still only 24 and 
developing as a player. We’ve been satisfied with the deals we’ve managed to complete during the transfer window.”

Aside from bringing in Done and midfielder Scott Robertson from Blackpool, though,

Fenlon admitted that managing to keep hold of key trio, Ryan McGivern, Jorge Claros and Leigh Griffiths had been his priority.

Those three have played a

vital role for the Easter Road side this season and, despite speculation that at least two out of three would return to their parent clubs, Fenlon and Co managed to conclude deals keeping them all in Edinburgh until at least the end of the

current season. He continued: “At the start of the window, our main objective was to extend the loan deals of Jorge, Leigh and Ryan, which we’ve managed to do, so it has been very productive. Full credit to everybody involved in making those loan deals happen and we’re also pleased to be able to add a player of Scott Robertson’s quality to the squad. We’re now looking to press on and generate some momentum in the second half of the season.”

Winger Done said: “I’m really pleased to have signed for Hibs – this is a good opportunity for me and I’m looking to make an impact. I believe I’ve developed as a player after spending the past season-and-a-half in the Championship with Barnsley.

Speaking on the club’s official website, Done revealed that a trip to Scotland with Barnsley for a pre-season friendly with Hibs in 2011 sold him on a move to Easter Road.

He said: “There was torrential rain just before kick-off and the match got called off but we ended up playing the friendly an hour later at their training ground and I was really impressed with what was on offer.

“So when I became aware of this loan offer I was keen to take it up.”