Hibs: Score more like Akpo Sodje, says Paul Hanlon

Sodje made an instant impression after his arrival at Easter Road in January, scoring twice in his opening five games and then scoring in four successive games either side of the SPL split in April.

Easter Road supremo Calderwood has drawn on his experience of English football to recruit Victor Palsson and Matt Thornhill, while Ricardo Vaz Te and Martin Scott also joined the club earlier this year. Of all the new arrivals during Calderwood's reign, it is Sodje, however, who has most impressed Hibs vice-captain Hanlon.

"Sodje came in and gave us a bit of a threat in the air and brought his fair share of goals and was on a scoring run. He did well since he came in, and the gaffer's come out and said that he wants a couple of strikers. A few that are going to put the ball in the net is the main thing, really."

Sodje ended the season just passed with a ratio of six goals in 15 games that appears all the more impressive given that the Easter Road outfit endured a torrid end to the campaign.

A natural goalscorer would prove a valuable commodity for Hibs in their bid to claim a top-six place next season, but, without any new additions in attack so far, Sodje shoulders that responsibility alone due to the increasing likelihood that Derek Riordan will leave Leith.

Hanlon, a close friend of Riordan, admits that last season's top scorer will be a big miss if he does not return to Hibs. "I speak to him but it's a personal thing and I'm not going to ask him about it," said Hanlon of Riordan's expected departure. "I'm sure wherever he goes, he'll be successful."