Pat Fenlon says Richie Towell still has Hibs role
Richie Towell
Richie Towell still has an important part to play at Hibs despite being frozen out in recent weeks, says Easter Road boss Pat Fenlon.
Towell has not played in more than a month, his last appearance coming in a ten-minute cameo during the Scottish Cup win at Cowdenbeath at the start of January, and Fenlon has told his fellow Dubliner to improve his fitness in order to be considered for team selection.
By nature a defensive midfielder, Towell has been employed at right-back for much of his spell at Easter Road. However, a recent influx of players who will contend for both of those positions appeared to have placed the Irishman’s future at the club under threat.
Although Michael Hart left the club, George Francomb and Matt Doherty have been signed on loan from Norwich and Wolves respectively in recent weeks to contest the right-back slot, while Lewis Stevenson and Isaiah Osbourne, as well as new arrivals Jorge Claros and Tom Soares, appear to be ahead of Towell in the race for a central midfield berth.
Fenlon, however, says that once the player’s fitness has improved Towell has a key role to play.
“He’s worked really hard,” the Hibs boss told the Evening News. “I had a good chat when I came in and told him he’s had to get his fitness levels up and just wait for his chance. But he’s definitely got a role to play between now and the end of the season.”
Having seen his opportunities limited at parent club Celtic – he has made just one appearance, as a substitute, for the Hoops – Towell first joined Hibs on loan last January.
Colin Calderwood negotiated a second temporary deal for the player at the beginning of this season, but the defender has lost his place under Fenlon since the latter was appointed Hibs boss in November.
While Towell bids to regain optimum sharpness, Gambian left-back Pa Kujabi and on-loan Stoke midfielder Tom Soares will unlock their potential for more impressive performances once their fitness reaches its peak, according to Fenlon.
“All the new signings have acquitted themselves well, and the full backs Doherty and Kujabi did particularly well. Pa and Tom Soares have much more to do fitness-wise, but they know that, and they have a big part to play for us in the coming weeks,” said Fenlon.
Honduran internationalist Claros, who last week signed a year-long loan deal at Hibs, is expected to make his debut in this Saturday’s SPL match against Aberdeen at Easter Road. Claros is understood to be returning to Scotland today after he is granted a work permit.
“We are hoping all that paperwork will be done before the weekend,” said Fenlon. “He could be a big player for us and we’re hoping he can come into contention soon.”
Midfielder Sean Welsh, who yesterday finalised a loan move to First Division outfit Partick Thistle, will welcome the opportunity to gain first-team experience at Firhill.
He said: “I asked the manager if I was going to get a chance and he said he wasn’t sure.
“Then, when more players came in, he said I probably wouldn’t play. There was no point in me just sitting doing nothing and not playing.
“My contract’s up in the summer, so I’ve got to get out there and show people what I can do so that, if it doesn’t go well for me at Hibs, then I’ve been playing games.”
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Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
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donald marr
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:05 AMAnyone see the Hearts last night? Looks like a team in meltdown to me.Didn't seem to try a leg. No wonder Mad Vlad's not keen to pay them.
Talking Sense
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:32 AMBaldrick: If Blackadder was here today he would send you over the top to put us all out of our misery from your pointless and unconnected comments.
Baldrick
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:01 AMIf Robert Burns were here today, I wonder if he would describe the Scottish football authorities as "a parcel of rogues in a nation"?
chesser cat
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:51 PMSack the trainer, with immediate effect. Does Towell not train every day like the rest ?? His contribution to Hibs last term was immense, and who knows had he been signed up earlier this term things could have turned out different. Pathetic excuse Mr Fenlon.
boozy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:44 PM# 19 Pfhs, What a good problem for us and Fenlon to have competition for places and players out to impress + not scared to get stuck in. I felt a bit sorry for CC as he had a team, that 80% of them knew they would not be at ER at the end of the season. Fenlon has acted strongly in chasing out the deadwood, but at a difficult time for transfers has managed to get far better quality in.
boozy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:30 PM# 17 Talking sense, I know that we have to sell players mate, especially when teams come in offering funny money, even to the Old-Firm. I don't have any gripe about towel, he might turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread. But there is no way we should be giving their youngsters game time over ours.
pfhs77
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:24 PMBoozy I have to agree with you, send him back. Too slow for a full back and only decent in the middle of the park. I think the depth of our squad is pretty decent now and with Claros coming into the mix I am pleasantly confussed on how would make up our midfield. I think the back 4 are easy Docherty, Hanlon, McPake & Kujabi and we have Francombe, Stephens, O'Hanlon & Booth as cover with Murray & Towell as back up also. This is where I struggle as we havent seen Claros play yet so my first choice would be Stevenson, Soares & Osbourne. That gives us cover from Claros & Scott. I would play Wotherspoon in the similar type role as Bale plays for Tottenham as we have a good full back in Docherty behind him now and I think Wotherspoon is good goin forward but not so good defensively. Which leaves the front 2 positions O'Connor & Griffiths with O'Donovan and Doyle also in contention. That leaves Galbraith, Sproule & Stanton as even more options. There seems to be a little competition there now and that will only make players raise there game to stay in the team. Defo see Hibs challenge for top 6 and it will be hard but with a squad like that perfectly capable. GGTTH
Talking Sense
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:10 PMOn the topic of the Hibs midfield, who would Clarios replace on saturday if he goes straight in? There is a guy behind me in the West Stand Lower (row N around no 122), you know who you are, who is always on Lewis Stevenson's back, but by and large he has been excellent this last few weeks under Pat Fenlon. He really puts a shift in (cannot shoot though). Osbourne is a big disappointment to me - only plays for about 5 minutes in each game and flits in and out the rest of the time. Sproule is best left to come off the bench late on and Wotherspoon had a strange game on Saturday. Good in patches going forward but not covering back back effectively. To me, Scott is a waste of time and Galbraith is like Sproule, best left on the bench to come on after 70 minutes. I will not start on how poor Garry O'Connor has been. Cannot trap the ball, passes intercepted and too overweight to run!
Talking Sense
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:02 PM#15 Boozy. I don't think Richie Towell will have a future at Celtic - just not good enough. Hibs best right back of recent times was actually Steven Whittaker and he was developed and, as you know, sold to Rangers not Celtic. Hibs did well to get 4.4 million from Celtic for Scott Brown though!
Talking Sense
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:58 PMI have to agree with Pat Fenlon about Richie Towel. In his first loan spell, while not the best defender in the league, he was quite good as a speedy overlapping wingback. Back for his second spell he seemed to have gained 5 kilos in the summer and slowed a lot. Was also blowing after a run up the wing. Too many pints of guiness back in Dublin for the summer?
boozy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:41 PMIts bad enough selling them our best players, without bringing their youngsters through as well. Send him back to Celtic, we have just sent one of our own youngsters to Partick Thistle, what is it all about?.
aklistair
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:35 PMHearts owner Vladimir Romanov's two other clubs FBK Kaunas and Partizan Minsk have been demoted from their domestic leagues in Lithuania and Belarus, respectively, after the businessman withdrew his investment from both clubs. (Sun) First Division Looming Then Jambos
Nero
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:14 PMRead earlier Glasgow Rangers looking at Derek Riordan ?
Nero
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:56 PMTowell is a passable player, keep a hold of him hibs, especially for european games next campaign.
Vietnam Veteran
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:53 PMHi lads me again! - i fancy Celtic to put 4 or 5 in the gorgie net tonight - do you?
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