Gary O’ Connor tipped for cap call

IN an early season lacking sparkle, few players have shone at Hibs so the idea of the manager touting any of them for international honours may seem surprising. But Colin Calderwood says Garry O’Connor has bucked the trend since his return to Easter Road and he believes he could force himself into the reckoning when Scotland manager Craig Levein names his next squad.

It’s two years since the striker last featured for his country, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute in the 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands at Hampden. It has been his only appearance since he gathered 15 caps and scored four goals between 2002 and 2007. Under Levein he hasn’t had a sniff at adding to that tally, but Calderwood claims that could change.

“There will be no-one happier than Craig Levein if Garry’s doing well enough to be considered,” said the Hibs boss. “He could come into the reckoning if we have three or four good weeks. You never know what happens, if there’s an injury to Kenny Miller or something like that. But I wouldn’t want him to go away – I’d be nervous!”

Given the formation the national boss has decided on and the players he already has at his disposal to deputise for his first-choice striker, Miller, it seems unlikely that – regardless of what Calderwood says – Hibs will have to worry about O’Connor picking up an injury or returning to his club jaded from international battle. But the concerns would be understandable.

After all, going into their sixth game of the league campaign, O’Connor remains the only Hibs player to have scored in the SPL, his contributions stopping them being cut adrift at the foot of the table. They do sit bottom, but their solitary victory at Inverness, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from O’Connor, means they are still within leapfrogging distance of this afternoon’s opponents, Aberdeen.

“Garry is almost the figurehead for the club. His goals this season have been a highlight for us,” said Calderwood. “In terms of how he goes about it, he’s progressing, in terms of his physical conditioning and match fitness. That comes, in part, from knowing he has a great chance of playing every game.

“He’s very positive and focused in terms of being a good pro and his experience is vital. His aim is to win the game on Sunday, on being a goalscorer and [in a] winning team for Hibs. I’ve been impressed by his maturity amid these defeats, even though as an individual he has been good and scored goals.”

Although delighted to simply be back playing football on a weekly basis, the frustrations of the first few league games at Hibs must have tested the former Birmingham City player’s mental strength. Often isolated up front, O’Connor’s chances have been few, but he has still found the net.

But Calderwood insists that position is temporary. Having added Leigh Griffiths to the squad on a loan deal, he envisages the team having more forward momentum, and with Akpo Sodje and Junior Agogo returning to full fitness, O’Connor will have support up front.

“We have Agogo, Sodje, Griffiths and O’Connor to call on, which wasn’t the case up until the Hearts game. Even then they weren’t conditioned and match ready,” said Calderwood. “That’s one of the contributing factors as to why we are where we are in the league and why we haven’t scored more than one goal in any of the games so far.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to go and pose a real threat unless you have the right firepower and arsenal. I think we’re in a much better place in that regard.”

An injection of that positivity is needed throughout the club, with fans staying away in their thousands as the team continued to flail. An upturn in fortunes will be required, and an improvement in style, if they are to be lured back.

“We know we have to do it on the pitch. Whatever people speak about, the most important thing is taking points by hook or by crook. This game will hopefully be the start of it,” Calderwood says.