Calderwood says there’s more to come from resurgent O’Connor

O’Connor took his tally to seven goals in nine games when he hit a double in Tuesday’s Scottish Communities League Cup tie at Motherwell, which Hibs won on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

The 28-year-old returned to Hibs in the summer at a low ebb, having been beset by injury and off-field problems. But he has quickly recaptured the goalscoring form that earned him a £1.4 million move to Lokomotiv Moscow in his first spell at Easter Road.

Calderwood, whose team host Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League today , said: “I think he has gone beyond what we would have expected. It’s a huge return for what he has had to do. He is benefiting from knowing he’s got a chance of starting on a Saturday, so he is focused on playing at the weekend. Not missing a training session in pre-season and since the start of the season has had a huge effect on him.

“If you recall what he was doing in the first week to then suddenly beginning to show some legs and power, and that’s still developing. I think there is more to come because he will last longer in games and the confidence is undoubtedly within him because seven goals is a great return for any striker. That lifts you and makes you feel happy about yourself.

“Credit to him as his personal happiness has been secondary to what the team is producing in terms of points and goals and producing for the club.”

Hibs host St Johnstone on Wednesday and Calderwood is looking for the two home games to push his team up the table, although they have not secured three points at home since February.

“It will bring parity to almost the majority of the league,” Calderwood said. “It’s a catch-up game, the game that was called off because we played Sunderland in a friendly.

“Fingers crossed we have got more players match-fit, the strikers are used to playing with each other. Going forward, that’s important. It was more important we got Junior [Agogo] some game time on Tuesday. Unfortunately the bad news from the cup tie is that Danny Galbraith has taken a knock and will certainly miss up to the international break with strained ligaments.”

Meanwhile, Dundee United manager Peter Houston believes his team will face a resurgent Hibernian this weekend after the Easter Road side’s victory in Tuesday’s cup tie against Motherwell.

United are looking to build upon their win over Inverness last weekend so have targeted a raid on the Edinburgh club. Houston said: “Hibs will have taken confidence from getting through against Motherwell the other night.

“Fir Park is always a tough place to go so to come away from there being in the next round of the cup is a good achievement. We are expecting to face a group of Hibs players on a high after their cup win and looking to kick on from there in the league.”

Houston also believes the appointment of his former Hearts colleague Billy Brown as assistant manager will see Hibs’ fortunes improve.

He added: “Billy Brown will make a difference. I have worked with Billy in the past so know he’s a great coach.

“He’s been there and done it all before so he’s a great guy to have at any club.

“I think it was a very shrewd move from Colin because Billy has been over the course in the SPL before, he knows the league inside out.”

United will have Scott Robertson available after he pulled out of this week’s game against Airdrie with a calf problem, but Sean Dillon is unlikely to make it. Houston revealed: “Scott Robertson trained with the lads so he will be okay. Sean Dillon is still doing his work with the physio so it might be too early for him. But other than that we’re in good shape.”