Hughes set to recruit former charge Cregg as first Hibs signing

Published on Thursday 25 June 2009 22:20

NEW Hibernian manager John Hughes is today set to make out-of-contract Falkirk midfielder Patrick Cregg his first signing for the club.

The former Arsenal youngster is expected to complete a medical before penning a one-year deal with the Easter Road club after spending the last three seasons at Falkirk under Hughes.

The 23-year-old was brought north from London by Hughes in 2006 and became an integral part of the passing philosophy carried out by the Bairns.

However, the former Republic of Ireland under-21 cap found himself in and out of the team last term as Hughes sought an answer to his side's frustrating inconsistency and battle against relegation.

Cregg was drafted back in for a start in the vital 1-0 away victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the final game of the season as Falkirk saved their SPL status and then played a massive role in dominating possession for the Bairns in their narrow Scottish Cup final defeat to Rangers.

It is that passing ability, coupled with a tough-tackling reputation, which has convinced Hughes to snatch the youngster away from the grasp of his former club as he bids to put his own stamp on the Hibs squad.

Cregg could yet be joined at Easter Road by Falkirk team-mate Dani Mallo, with the out-of-contract Spanish goalkeeper indicating earlier this week he is keen to be reunited with Hughes in the capital.

Falkirk are eager to retain the former Deportivo La Coruna shot-stopper and have offered him a new contract but Hughes confirmed his interest in the 30-year-old before heading to the United States on holiday earlier this month.

It has been suggested that Hughes, who has released Ross Chisholm and is set to lose another midfielder in Denes Rosa, could also be weighing up a possible move for Falkirk's Kevin McBride.

McBride, who joined the club from Darlington on a free transfer in January 2008, made 35 appearances for Falkirk last season. He was an impressive performer in the centre of midfield in the 1-0 Scottish Cup final loss to Rangers at Hampden.

Meanwhile, Hughes has confessed that he will consider moving into the loan market with Hibs, as he did to good effect at Falkirk.

Hughes drafted in goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Tim Krul, midfielder Arnau Riera and, most significantly, prolific striker Anthony Stokes on temporary deals, with the latter going on to net 16 goals in 18 appearances for the Bairns during a loan spell from Arsenal.

Hughes, whose first competitive match in charge of Hibs will be the SPL opener against St Mirren next month, commented: "I'm certainly not scared to make phone calls and take players on loan if I think it is the right thing to do. I've never been a cheque-book manager. I love working the market and the loan system, as I did for a number of years at Falkirk, where we had a lot of success bringing in the likes of Stokes, Schmeichel, Krul and so on."