Hibs recruit Tom Soares determined to avoid another sinking feeling

MIDFIELDER Tom Soares knows what it is like to experience relegation and is determined to avoid the drop from the Premier League with Hibs.

While the Edinburgh side’s immediate focus is on today’s William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round fixture at home to Kilmarnock, there is no doubt SPL survival is the priority.

Soares moved to Easter Road on loan from Stoke as one of eight players recruited in January by manager Pat Fenlon. After beginning his career with Crystal Palace, experiencing both promotion and relegation, Soares joined Stoke. He has had a limited impact with the Potters and two spells on loan were also far from successful, with Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday both failing to avoid the drop despite Soares’ presence in the team.

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Soares, who is out of contract at Stoke at the end of the season, said: “As a player I want to win every game, I want to be successful. I’ve been at two clubs, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, and they both got relegated and I went back to Stoke.

“It’s not great for me. Me, as a person, I don’t like failure. I want to be successful and that’s why I came here. Everyone wants results and we need results desperately now.

“The players that have come in are eager to play and willing to work hard to climb up the table. Maybe I might have a word with a few of the boys when I feel like it might be needed, to let them know how it feels [to be relegated] and what they’ve got to lose.” The spectre of relegation looms large over Easter Road. Hibs are one point above bottom club Dunfermline after a 4-0 loss at Rangers last weekend, when Soares made his debut.

Four more players joined on transfer deadline day and Soares believes things are looking up. He said: “It’s a good squad. The new players coming in ups everyone’s game a bit and it’s better for the squad.”

The 25-year-old sought advice from Ricardo Fuller over a move to Edinburgh – his Stoke team-mate had spent a spell at Hearts earlier in his career.

While Hearts last won the Scottish Cup in 2006, Hibs’ last success was in 1902. Asked about Hibs’ cup credentials, Soares said: “I don’t know too much. I don’t think they do too well.”

When informed it was 110 years since Hibs last lifted the trophy and whether they can end the drought, Soares insisted they could. He added: “You need to go into every game to win. If we go on a decent run in the cup, hopefully we can go up the league as well.”

Kilmarnock defender Michael Nelson believes Hibs’ precarious league position makes them dangerous opponents in the cup today. “It might take the pressure off them a bit. They might just see this game as a chance to go out and experiment a little,” said Nelson. “If they get knocked out of the cup, they can concentrate on the league. There is absolutely no pressure on them. They will try to use this game as a platform to try to get them going in the SPL.”

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Kilmarnock have already booked their place in the League Cup final and are now seeking an extended run in the other cup competition.

Nelson added: “It’s important to try to win even though some folk think you just focus on the league and that’s the most important thing. But you try to win all your cup games to progress and try to get these big occasions of semi-finals and finals.”