Hibs look to secure Airey before weekend tie

Hibs were today expected to complete the signing of Newcastle United striker Phil Airey on a season-long loan deal and hope to have him available for Sunday's SPL trip to Kilmarnock, the Evening News understands.

Airey, 19, was thought to be scheduled to arrive at Hibs' East Mains training centre to undergo a medical examination and sign a contract in time for him to make the squad for Rugby Park this weekend.

Should Colin Calderwood reach agreement with the player and his parent club, he will bring to a close a prolonged pursuit of Airey, having initially approached the Magpies in January only to see a move scuppered by a hamstring injury to the 5ft 11in centre forward.

Airey's single first-team start for the Magpies came earlier this year in an FA Cup defeat at Stevenage Town, but he has shown positive goalscoring form in the club's reserve team, striking eight goals in nine appearances for the Toon's reserve team in 2009/10.

It is believed a loan deal would include the right of Hibs or Newcastle to allow Airey to return to the north-east of England at any point during the campaign.

The Geordie star would become Calderwood's sixth signing of the summer after midfielder Isaiah Osbourne was named as the fifth new face at Easter Road.

The 23-year-old moves north from Aston Villa under freedom of contract, pending international clearance and could figure in Calderwood's plans for the visit to Ayrshire. The manager said: "Isaiah is a quality midfielder and he brings lots of attributes to the squad."

Osbourne, meanwhile, was delighted to seal the move, saying: "Everything about the move to Hibernian felt right. I'm joining an ambitious club with everything in place for the team to succeed.

There were other options that I looked at back down in England, but I wanted a fresh challenge and Hibernian met all my requirements.

"The manager, Colin Calderwood, knows what I'm about and I believe he will be able to get the best out of me. I'm looking forward to the move.

"Over the past few seasons, I've been out on loan a few times and I've never really enjoyed a settled run in the team. Now I want to enjoy my football again, play regularly and do all I can to make Hibernian successful."