Hibs close in on loan signing of Andrew Shinnie

Former Scotland international Andrew Shinnie is closing in on a move to Easter Road. Picture: Getty

Blues boss Gary Rowett revealed the 27-year-old former Rangers and Inverness player was free to return to Scotland.

The attacking midfielder has only played five games in 2016, three on loan at Rotherham.

Rowett told his club’s official website: “Shinns has been a great lad for me, he’s a really, really good player, particularly when we first came in - he was a really integral part of that.

“The likes of Jon (Toral) and Diego (Fabbrini) have moved that number 10 position on a notch in some ways and it’s made it difficult for him to get game time.

“You start getting into the next season and if you feel as though he is still going to be limited I will never try and stand in anyone’s way.

“I would want to play football if I was a player, they have made an enquiry, we have virtually agreed and now it’s down to one or two things that Shinns has to decide. Whether he wants to go back to Scotland or various other things.

“In principle it’s something both clubs think it’s probably a good move for him, although until it’s done it’s not done.”

Hibs boss Neil Lennon has been looking for reinforcements and previously made an enquiry about taking Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson back to Easter Road.

Rowett added: “He was really unlucky last season, he went to Rotherham, they changed manager very quickly and he didn’t play.

“I certainly hope that if he were to go to Hibernian, probably the biggest club in the Scottish Championship, I would think it would be a really good move for him.

“I would like to think they would dominate quite a few games and he would get lots of opportunities in the final third to show his undoubted quality which we know he has got.”

Click here for the latest results, fixtures and stats>>>

Keep up to date with all our sport news on The Scotsman’s Sport page on Facebook

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY