Grounded Hibs starlet Josh Doig has say on Leicester City speculation and reveals rolemodels

Josh Doig would be a rich young man if he had a quid for every time someone has asked him about Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney.

Hibs youngster Josh Doig is trying to stay grounded despite attracting more interest from clubs south of the border. Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group

The pair he dreams of one day dislodging as Scotland’s main men on that left flank, they are obvious role models for the blossoming full-back/wing-back, who meticulously studies their performances.

But, as Leicester City become the latest English Premier League club to be credited with an interest in the Hibs teenager, the Liverpool and Arsenal men also prove that such a move could prove fruitful.

“John McGinn as well. All of them are doing so well and it proves that you can do it if you are Scottish,” explained the 18-year-old who has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Scottish top tier. “It is a massive confidence boost to see where they have come from and then see them doing that. It is brilliant for the Scottish game and along with the Scotland squad and what they are doing at the moment, it is a massive help for myself and has given me a massive push.

“I am putting the work in and hopefully I can copy them. They are role models for a lot of Scottish players.”

His club manager, Jack Ross who promoted him into the first team squad this term and has been thrilled with the way he has looked at home in that environment, sees no reason why he can’t eventually reach the levels talked about.

“I think he has the attributes that give him a very, very good chance of that.

“It is one thing to start playing regular first team football at a very good level at 18 but dig a bit deeper and you can see what he has in his locker; what he has shown already and what we still feel he can build on.

“He has got, in my opinion, all the necessary attributes to reach that level of the game.

“When people start discussing Young Player of the Year, I can’t see many in this country who have been better over the course of the season when you consider how consistently he has played. He has been part of a team that has consistently challenged at the top end of the table and his performance level throughout that time has been hugely consistent as well.”

Games against tomorrow’s opponents, Rangers, and against Celtic have been key to his ongoing education and the feedback from both Gers boss Steven Gerrard and star man James Tavernier, after Doig proved as adept as anyone this season at nullifying his threat, served as a welcome validation and reminded him that while the interest in him seems like fairytale stuff it is justified.

“When you hear these massive clubs are showing an interest it is a bit overwhelming. I just have to take it in my stride and not get too overconfident about it.

“I’m still young and still developing. I’ll take it as it comes, as long as I’m still playing football.

“That’s the most important thing for me, to help me physically and improve my game.

“The main focus is to keep developing as I’m still learning every day in training. I want to play as many games as possible.”

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