Hibs boss showers praise on Nish in new role

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 08:56

HIBS boss John Hughes today hailed the contribution Colin Nish has made since winning back his place in the starting line-up.

The big hitman found himself benched at the start of the season but has forced his way back into the reckoning in recent weeks.

He's playing a new role in the middle of the park and has made the position his own with several man-of-the-match displays.

He set up Anthony Stokes for Hibs' leveller against Kilmarnock on Saturday and his performances have not gone un-noticed by the manager.

Hughes said: "Big Nishy has been our best player for the last month by far and I spoke to him after the game to tell him that I really had to take my hat off to him for his contribution at Kilmarnock, and over the last few weeks.

"He found himself out of the team but he worked hard to get back in and took on a new role. For some reason, he has grasped the concept of what we want from the players and he has gone out there and applied it.

"He just needs a goal again, he's doing all that work and it would be good for him to get a goal under his belt.

"He showed real ingenuity to play Stokesy in for the goal and I was delighted for him. He is playing a bit deeper but you'll find that if you drop off, a lot of balls fall into that area and the goals will come for him.

"Zemmama dinked one in for him to the back post against Kilmarnock and he was just half a yard away from putting it in."

Meanwhile, Hughes held his hands up and admitted that he made a mistake in not giving Paul Hanlon a seat on the bench at Kilmarnock.

The defender was part of the squad but had to watch the 1-1 draw from the stand and Hughes conceded: "I am honest enough to admit when I have made a mistake and I think I did that at the weekend.

"Young Paul Hanlon was outstanding in the reserve game against Sunderland last week, his reading of the game was excellent, his passing and his heading was superb. He deserved to be named at least but I went for a more physical bench and I have been questioning that all weekend. But he's a great young player with an attitude to match and his time will definitely come."

And Hughes had more words of encouragement for the player, adding: "The way he's been playing, he could even find himself in the starting 11 next week."