How Stevie G sold the Hibs move to Palsson

Although he had his heart set on a move to Easter Road, the Icelandic kid sought out the midfield ace for his advice and was delighted when the former England captain gave him the thumbs-up.

Although he admitted making the switch to Edinburgh was a massive decision to take, 19-year-old Palsson insisted it was the right move as he seeks to further a career which has already seen him play in his homeland, Denmark and England.

Spotted as a youngster playing for Icelandic side Fylkir, Palsson was snapped up by Danish club AGF Aarhus, signing a three-year deal at the age of just 16.

But before he even made a first team appearance, Liverpool stepped in, offering him a trial and then forking out 300,000 to take him to Merseyside on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Palsson quickly became a key player in the Reds reserve side as captain, playing mostly in central defence rather than his preferred position in midfield but, with his Liverpool deal due to expire at the end of this season, he jumped at the chance to move north.

However, while sure in his own mind it was the right decision, Palsson sounded out Gerrard, a player he was so overawed to be playing alongside in one match he asked the 30-year-old if he minded him being captain of the reserves.

Stunned as Gerrard turned up at short notice for the second string's game at Tranmere, Palsson said: "It was all a bit of a surprise, we were all excited. But I felt I had to ask him whether he minded that I was to have the captain's armband and not him.

"John McMahon (reserve team coach] wanted me to do the job and Steven was very good about it and told me to get on with it. Playing alongside him was a great experience, he was talking to me and helping me all the time."

As such, it was only natural Palsson should turn to Gerrard when faced with the monumental decision as to whether he should leave Liverpool to pursue his dream of first-team football.

He said: "I was very happy with what Colin Calderwood had told me, the role he wanted me to play at Hibs and the simple fact he wanted me to sign for the club.

"I spoke to Steven and he said the same things I was thinking, that I need to get out and play. I'm 19 and it's an important age if you want to play and make a good career for yourself."

Palsson had already had a little taste of first-team action having spent a spell on loan with League One outfit Dagenham and Redbridge but, he claimed, the opportunity of an 18-month contract at Easter Road was too good to resist.

And, he insisted, Hibs' current plight had done nothing to deter him, the Easter Road side's relegation worries deepening as Palsson, along with other new signings Martin Scott and Matt Thornhill, made his debut in Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Dundee United, a result which leaves Colin Calderwood's side hovering just two points above basement club Hamilton.

The 6ft 1in youngster said: "I've come here to get first team football. After two years at Liverpool I felt I was ready for it. I had half-a-year left on my contract but when I heard Hibs were interested I was really happy.

"I didn't have to think twice because of the situation the team is in at the minute, I know the history of the club and that this is really unusual for Hibs, that usually they are in the top six.

"At Liverpool I played in almost every reserve game, I was captain for a season and in my two years there I've become a better player and person and, I feel, I am ready for first-team football. That's why I have come to Hibs."

And despite a fifth successive defeat for Hibs, Palsson declared his belief that Calderwood's side can dig themselves out of trouble, starting with tomorrow night's visit from fellow strugglers St Mirren.

Sporting a strip of sticking plaster covering a gashed cheek as a memento of his first match as a Hibs player, he said: "Of course it wasn't the debut I'd envisaged but I don't think we deserved to be beaten 3-0. We had chances in the first half to go 1-0 up and we could have defended better but in between I thought we played some good stuff. I've only been here a few days and the atmosphere in the locker room and around the club is good, we just need the results, to work hard and I think everything will be better."

Having represented Iceland at every age level since Under-17s, Palsson also has his eyes on this summer's European Under-21 Championship finals in Denmark with Iceland having beaten Scotland in a play-off.

The second leg of that decider was, of course, played at Easter Road last October, the young Icelanders repeating the 2-1 they'd achieved in Reykjavic a few days earlier.

Naturally, Palsson has fond memories of a night when he played as a second-half substitute with Paul Hanlon and David Wotherspoon, now team-mates in green and white, wearing the dark blue of Scotland.

He said: "It was a great game, the stadium was fantastic. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night when, I am sure, the Hibs fans will turn out to support us and help us to get that win.

"I also want to be part of the Icelandic squad this summer and to do that I need to be playing first-team football. "I am going to get that chance here at Hibs so I'm really happy with the decision I've made."