John Hughes hails Colin Nish for his ability to do the ugly work

COLIN Nish may be the least aesthetically pleasing of the five strikers now at John Hughes' disposal but he is no less valued by the Hibs manager for that.

Mark McGhee is also an admirer of the big centre forward, the Aberdeen manager having had an enquiry for him firmly rebuffed by Hughes on transfer deadline day. Nish remains central to Hughes' quest for European qualification this season and will line up against McGhee's side at Easter Road tomorrow night as Hibs look to strengthen their grip on third place in the SPL.

Hughes perhaps had his tongue in his cheek last week when he mused on uncovering a new 'Famous Five' forward line at the club with new loan signing Alan Gow joining Anthony Stokes, Derek Riordan, Abdessalam Benjelloun and Nish at his disposal.

But there was no doubting his sincerity yesterday as he lauded Nish for his contribution this season and dismissed Aberdeen's attempt to sign him.

"There was nothing in it really," smiled Hughes. "Big Mark (McGhee) is just pulling my chain. Big Nish is doing well for us. He is maybe not good on the eye, but he has been great for me since I came. I enjoy working with him. I think I can make him better. The biggest thing is he wants to become better.

"He scores goals and when I speak to a lot of Hibs supporters, they are telling me it is also the hardest they have seen him work. Anything that he gets, you are awful pleased for him.

"He is a well liked guy in the dressing room and I think the majority of supporters appreciate the job he does defensively as well. At set pieces against us, he will get back and head it clear. When you see him on the training pitch, he is as good as anything out there in terms of finishing."

Hibs have lost just two of their past 18 SPL fixtures to leave themselves two points behind second-placed Celtic in the table with a game in hand. Hughes, however, continues to insist third spot is the limit of his ambitions.

"I've been in football long enough to know that doing well can be just a week away from being a dud," he said. "That goes for management, players, everyone. But I can see vast improvements in the standards and culture we are trying to set at the club since the start of the season.

"At the start of the season, you say to yourself 'let's see how this team blends in'. You buy yourself time, you don't want to raise expectations. Then it was a case of seeing how we go and if we could get through the Christmas period. Now that we are through that, have added one or two players in the window and are still up there challenging for that European spot, I have put the challenge down to them.

"I think that's the least the Hibs supporters expect, to try and get into the European places every year and qualify for the latter stages of the cup competitions. I'm not putting my head on the block to say we will definitely do it.

"I've had a good response since I said it. We might not do it, but it won't be for the want of trying. Along the way, we will take a couple of sore ones, I'm quite sure of that. There is no chance (of finishing second), the Old Firm are miles in front. I'm honest enough to say Celtic were the better football side when we beat them recently. If I can get my boys as good as that, then that's us improved it again.

"If you had said to me at the start of the season that there would be a chance of us jumping into second place if we win our game in hand at this stage, then I would have laughed at you. But that's all credit to the players. I still think we have more to give, I really do. I think I can make it better with these boys, I think I can work them harder to give them a better understanding of how the game should be played."

Hughes has no injury concerns ahead of tomorrow night as Hibs seek a third win over Aberdeen this season. Defender Sol Bamba, rested for Saturday's Scottish Cup stroll against Montrose, is likely to return for a contest Hughes will view with cautious optimism.

"Although we have won both of our previous matches against Aberdeen, they were very tough," he said. "We expect the same on Wednesday. I've got great respect for Mark in terms of the job he is doing up there. They have lost a lot of good players, the latest being Lee Miller, but they are in a process of rebuilding. They have got some of the best youngsters in Scotland. I like Fraser Fyvie, who plays well beyond his years in midfield. But if I can get my team playing to the standard they have been for most of the season, then I'd like to think the three points will stay at Easter Road."