Prodigal son's return befitting of Riordan's re-appearance at Hibs

Published on Friday 12 September 2008 22:46

PRODIGAL SON – n a waster; a spendthrift; a wanderer returned. – The Chambers Dictionary

VIRTUOUS and pure players such as Kenny Dalglish, Henrik Larsson and Shaun Maloney have all had this phrase erroneously chucked at their names with wild abandon to help beef up back page headlines, but just when is a prodigal son really a prodigal son? Step forward Derek Riordan of Hibernian.

The 25-year-old striker, who has seen two barren years as a squad makeweight at Celtic punctuated by court appearances and nightclub bans, has been welcomed back into the bosom of his boyhood heroes Hibs, and Easter Road supporters are 100 per cent accurate to be hailing this comeback as the "return of the prodigal son".

The usage of the term prodigal son can be traced to a parable Jesus told to illustrate how generous God is in forgiving sinners who repent. The Prodigal Son was a young man who asked his father for his inheritance and then left home for "a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living". With his money spent, he returned. His father offered forgiveness and celebrated his return, saying: "For this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Riordan's career at Celtic was dead in April, when after being left out of the starting line up one time too many by Gordon Strachan, he took the calculated but ill-fated gamble of pillorying his manager in a Sunday newspaper.

The forward, who had been given a paucity of game time at Celtic by Strachan – ironically a fellow ex-pupil of Craigroyston High School – after leaving Hibs on the back of a 60-goal haul in three seasons, decided if he was going to go public on his dissatisfaction, then a 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell represented perfect timing to put the boot in to a manager under siege.

Instead, Celtic won all seven of their remaining fixtures to retain the SPL title in a blaze of glory, sending Strachan's popularity soaring, and leaving a red-faced Riordan an even bigger outcast than he had been before. Despite a contract spanning one more season at Parkhead, it was obvious that Riordan's time was up and his agent, the former Hibs goalkeeper Jim McArthur, redoubled his efforts to find him an escape route and save his career. Burnley, Leeds United and – incredibly – Hearts, were linked with moves to end the player's misery, but with Riordan's long-lost Hibs stuttering in the SPL and the natives restless in Leith, the message boards were pleading with chairman Rod Petrie and the Easter Road board to "bring back Deeks".

Speculation of a return had been mounting since Riordan was spotted sitting in the West Stand at Hibs pre- season clash with Middlesbrough. He's a Hibs fan and was just here to watch the match, insisted Mixu Paatelainen at his post-match press conference.

Pilton's favourite son was, after all, used to parking his backside on a seat on a Saturday, so Paatelainen's explanation appeared plausible. But Hibs supporters kept hoping that the purse-strings could be prised apart and an audacious bid launched to tempt back the finest striker in a generation to have worn Scotland's original green and white.

The rumour-mill went ballistic as transfer window deadline day approached. On the final day, reports suggested it was down to a two-horse race between Hibs, the object of a lifetime of affection for Riordan, and Hearts, the team he loudly booed as a nipper.

On a night when the Old Firm conducted no transfer business, it was Hibs who emerged with the coup of the window – Riordan was on his way back, not on loan, but on a three-year contract. At a time when Hibs were in dire need of good PR, Petrie had not only pulled out the chequebook but a rabbit out the hat.

Ticket sales for today's clash with Dundee United reflect the anticipation at Riordan's return. He is said to be chattier, more mature, and ready to unleash two seasons' worth of pent-up goals on opponents. One small problem lurks, however, the prodigal son has a slight groin strain. Even the sight of him on the bench would cheer 15,000 fans today.

Players who have worked their way back to Easter Road

Joe Baker 1957-61 & 1970-72)

ONE of the greatest centre forwards to have played for the club, the reluctant England international with a Lanarkshire accent never regained the dizzy heights of his teenage brilliance when he went back to Easter Road.

John Blackley (1967-78 & 1983-84)

'Sloop' was brought back as a player by fellow Turnbull's Tornado Pat Stanton and then succeeded him as manager.

Grant Brebner (1997-98 & 1999-2005)

Originally on loan from Manchester United, but chose Reading when deal expired. Second spell lasted far longer.

Gary Caldwell (2001-02 & 2003-2006)

Eleven loan appearances first time round before returning to Newcastle, then 88 games before joining Celtic.

Peter Cormack (1962-70 & 1979-81)

Marked debut with goal in memorable 2-0 win over Real Madrid, and after excelling under Bill Shankly at Liverpool, returned via Bristol City.

Bobby Johnstone (1948-55 & 1959-61)

Legendary Famous Five member added a further 17 Hibs goals to his previous 88 after coming back from Man City.

Pat McGinlay (1988-93 and 1994-2000)

Skol Cup winner first time round, brief switch to Celtic, before second spell.

Iain Munro (1973-76 & 1984-1986)

Defender brought back to provide experience in the 1980s.

Ian Murray (1999-2005 & 2008-present)

Brought back to Hibs by Mixu Paatelainen via Rangers and Norwich.

Mixu Paatelainen (1998-2001 & 2002-03)

Current Hibs manager left for Strasbourg, but was brought back by Bobby Williamson after being spotted training alone on Arthur's Seat.

Eric Schaedler (1969-78 & 1981-85)

Another key Turnbull's Tornado, played a further 87 times under Bertie Auld then Stanton and Blackley.

Bobby Smith (1972-79, 1982-83 & 1986-87)

Versatile player moved to Leicester, came back on loan, went back to Leicester, then came back again.

Mickey Weir (1984-88 & 1987-1997)

Talisman had a short unhappy stay at Luton before Skol Cup glory on return.