Stevie Mallan's Hibs exit put on pause as move to Yeni Malatyaspor stalls

Stevie Mallan’s proposed move to Turkish football has stalled, with Hibs boss Jack Ross revealing the midfielder is back in the Capital outfit’s plans.

Stevie Mallan was back in the mix at Hibs training after switch to Turkey stalled. Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group

The 24-year-old, who signed for the Easter Road club from Barnsley in 2018, had been targeted by Yeni Malatyaspor, who wanted him on loan until the end of the season with the possibility of a permanent deal in the summer.

Ross revealed that he had not been keen to lose the player, who has scored four goals in 21 appearances this season, but the former Scotland Under-21 star has seen his starting opportunities limited and, with the arrival of Jackson Irvine and Chris Cadden to bolster the competition for midfield berths, he has made it known he is seeking more regular first team action and is happy to do that elsewhere.

The player missed the end of last year’s curtailed season through injury and had been hoping to kick on this term.

While rumours had linked him with a return to his old St Mirren stomping ground, that did not come to anything. The lucrative switch to Turkey, though, appeared to satisfy all parties and Mallan was left out of the Betfred Cup semi-final squad as a consequence.

But, the brakes have now been applied. That decision has come as a surprise to the Hibs manager – but Ross says he is happy to welcome him back to the fold.

“Stevie isn’t a player I was keen to lose but he’s been frustrated about not playing as much as he would like lately,” said Ross.

“A relatively unique opportunity came up for him to go overseas and it looked like it would happen but it’s stalled a bit. For the time being, he’s back in the squad but that could change.”

There are still a few days of the transfer window and Hibs are now just playing a waiting game.

“It’s been a topsy-turvy few days for him,” explained the Leith gaffer, “but he’s back training and will be with us unless anything changes.

“That’s why he was left out at the weekend but things have stalled a little and we will see what the next few days brings.”

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