Experience of Sproule tempts Hibs boss

Hibs boss Colin Calderwood has admitted Ivan Sproule's previous experience of Easter Road could help entice the flying winger back to Edinburgh,

The Northern Ireland internationalist has been linked with a return to Hibs this summer with reports suggesting he has already met Calderwood to discuss such a move.

Signed by former boss Tony Mowbray for what proved to be a bargain 5000 from Irish outfit Institute in 2005, Sproule became an instant hit with the Easter Road support, his lightning pace helping him claim a sensational second-half hat-trick against Rangers, the first Hibs player to do so at Ibrox in a century while Sproule was also part of team which lifted the CIS Insurance Cup under John Collins in 2007.

A 500,000 move to Bristol City followed but Sproule has now been told his contract with the English Championship club won't be renewed when it expires at the end of this season.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening News earlier this season, Sproule admitted he'd jump at the chance to return to the club where he made his name, the fact he'd gone on loan to Yeovil Town preventing such a move in January under FIFA'S "three-club rule." Calderwood admitted he "had heard" that the now 30-year-old was being touted as a possible summer recruit before pointing out Sproule was currently under contract elsewhere.

However, he added: "He is certainly one that has been here and it does not take a genius to work out that people who have played in Scotland might come back more easily than someone who has not.

"Out of contract, it's quite easy to put one and two together."

Meanwhile, Calderwood insisted he'll be looking or his players to produce "more excitement" in tomorrow's SPL clash with St Johnstone than was on show during last weekend's 1-1 draw against St Mirren.

He said: "We have to get a bit more excitement for the home fans and look as if we have a better threat than we did. Overall there were moments when we played some good football, but it was sporadic.

"We did not have anything like the second-half pressure we had against Hamilton, so more of that and really an appetite for going and winning it.

"What they did though last week was to dig in and compete right to the end to take a point from a game where a lot of people played below their normal standard."