Thumbs-up for new Hibs ace Ryan McGivern

James McPAKE has backed boss Pat Fenlon’s latest signing Ryan McGivern to be an instant success at Hibs – four days before the Northern Ireland internationalist even sets foot inside Easter Road.

Fenlon snapped up 22-year-old McGivern on loan from mega-spending Manchester City on transfer deadline day, although red tape prevented him from facing a baptism of fire 24 hours later as Hibs twice battled back to claim a point at Celtic Park.

McGivern immediately departed to join up with Michael O’Neill’s squad as Northern Ireland prepared for the start of their World Cup campaign, last night’s opening game against Russia in Moscow being 
followed by the visit of Luxembourg to Belfast on Tuesday.

He’s then expected to head to Edinburgh the next day to join Fenlon’s squad as they aim to extend their unbeaten SPL run to five matches as they play Kilmarnock in the Capital next Sunday. But if the Hibs support know little of the Newry-born star, McPake is far more familiar with the new arrival having faced him in the English Championship while with Coventry City and played alongside him as he made his own international debut for Northern Ireland against Holland in Amsterdam.

Although McGivern has made just one appearance for City – as a susbtitute in a 5-0 win over Sunderland – McPake revealed he’s picked up plenty of experience having had previous loan spells at Morecambe, Leicester City, Walsall, Crystal Palace and Bristol City in addition to a clutch of international caps, which is now into double figures.

And the Easter Road skipper is convinced Hibs will reap the benefit as McGivern arrives on a short-term deal until January. He said: “Ryan is an experienced player. He’s probably played more than 100 games in the Championship. He’s played for some big clubs and he’s at one of the biggest in the world.

“He’s a good player, a boy with the right attitude which is what the manager has brought him to the club for. I’m looking forward to him arriving.”

Hibs have moved to “clarify” the situation of Danny Galbraith after the winger was reported to have been told to stay away from the club’s training centre. Galbraith hasn’t played since January because of injury and underwent a groin operation at the end of last season.

While Fenlon revealed the 22-year-old former Manchester United player had returned to training a fortnight ago, Hibs have said his absence from East Mains relates to his “ongoing medical condition.”

A Hibs statement said: “The club’s medical team and the player felt that a short break from training would assist his rehabilitation prior to a further assessment of his ongoing medical problems.

“Danny’s medical condition is a private matter between the player and the club. The player has not been subject to any disciplinary process or suspension by the club. Recent reports in the media have been wide of the mark and hurtful to the player. The club hopes Danny will recover from his playing injuries in the near future.”