Sodje's got Hibs flying

So far, Sodje has played twice for Hibs and has produced instant results, setting one up for Derek Riordan a fortnight ago in the win over St Mirren, and then scoring one for himself as Colin Calderwood's side racked up a 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Calderwood has given the Sodje and Riordan pairing a chance to establish itself in those two games, but has already stressed that he won't simply be relying on one partnership up front to get Hibs goals in the remainder of this campaign.

With Colin Nish and Darryl Duffy, to name just two, desperate for their chance in the Hibs frontline, Calderwood certainly has options available to him and Hibs legend Wright, himself a former striker, believes that his old side would benefit most from giving all of their frontmen a chance to shine.

In particular, he is confident that Nish could return to his best form, thanks to the arrival of Sodje and he said: "If you look back over the years, every successful club has had a partnership based on consistency of selection because that tends to bring results with it.

"A recognised front two or three would be huge for Hibs, and it's not just about Derek and Akpo, because I think Colin Nish can play a big part.

"He is a confidence player and I don't think that it will be too long before he is banging in the goals for Hibs again.

"I think Jim Jefferies has done that at Hearts, he's made minimal changes to his side and it has worked for them, whereas Hibs were chopping and changing their line-up quite a bit earlier in the season.

"If the manager can get established units all over the park, whether it be up front, midfield or in defence, then it will definitely help the side."

However he knows that the predatory instinct of Riordan is also likely to be given a boost by the two big strikers vying for a chance to set up the chances for him, adding: "I think that he can be a good foil for the likes of Derek or Nish. I've read a lot about him since he came to the club and I have seen the footage of him setting one up for Derek and scoring his first one for Hibs at the weekend against Kilmarnock.

"He could be ideal for the team. I think that Derek, in particular, will probably enjoy playing alongside someone of the stature that Sodje has got, he's a big physical guy, and he will obviously add more competition to the side as well because I think his presence will have given Colin Nish a lift.

"He knows that Sodje is a similar type of player to him, so he will probably have a bit of a fight on his hands to get on the team but it could turn out to be a good thing for him because I think it will improve his performances as well so the team wins all ways really.

"The main man who will benefit from all of this though is Derek Riordan because he is more of a predator and he can concentrate on producing great movement and great finishes, rather than have to try to fight to create chances for other people."

Sodje's arrival is only one of a string of positives to have come Hibs' way in recent weeks, the back-to-back victories coming either side of Riordan's announcement that he wants to finish his career at Easter Road. The 28-year-old had been linked with a move elsewhere during the January transfer window, including rumours which grew like wildfire that he would be travelling along the M8 once again, only this time to join Rangers.

However, he put paid to that after the St Mirren game two weeks ago by saying that he was keen to sign a new deal and Wright, pictured, was one of the thousands delighted to hear that kind of news: "It was a big boost to everybody when Derek came out and said that he wanted to stay at the club because a lot of people had it down as a certainty that he would be leaving during the window.

"There were a lot of rumours about him going elsewhere, linking him with the likes of Rangers, sides down south and abroad. At one stage it just seemed like a matter of where he would be going.

"For him to say that he wants to finish his career at Easter Road just makes him even more of a hero with the fans and if they can come to some kind of agreement and he does commit his future to Hibs then it will be another massive bonus for everyone connected with the club.

"And hopefully we will get the chance to see the best of him because there are now a lot of players round about him in the side can really help his game."

Sodje has become something of an instant hero with the Hibs supporters and Wright was delighted to see the former Charlton player getting off the mark so early in his Hibs career.

The striker has penned an 18-month deal and Wright can already see signs of him becoming a massive hit with the supporters. "For him personally, scoring so early in his Hibs career will be a great thing, it will lift the pressure from him and the fans certainly seem to have taken to him right away.

"I think he is quite a character and he already seems to be like some kind of cult hero to the guys in the stands. It's a huge boost when you're a striker and you come to a club and get off to a flier. Sometimes it can work the other way for you and you go a few weeks without getting a goal and people start to question you.

"If you can get off the mark quickly, it shows everyone how good a player you are and it lets you get on with your game without having to worry about when that first goal is going to come. He'll just be so relaxed now and looking forward to the next game coming around."

And Sodje seems to be a big hit off the park as well as on it, his colourful character making an impression.

Wright continued: "I think that someone like Sodje was maybe just what the dressing room needed because things were a bit low for a while there.

"Everyone was just hoping they would get a decent result to give them a lift, but they seem to have done that themselves with the new signings who have come in and long may that continue."

Sodje, of course, is only one piece of the jigsaw that Calderwood is gradually beginning to put together at Easter Road.

The Hibs manager brought in five other players during the January transfer window and now has the backbone of a team that he can call his own.

Alongside the big striker, he added Matt Thornhill, Victor Palsson, Martin Scott, Jakub Divis and Richie Towell,, and is still scouring the market for other fresh faces who may be available as free agents:

"I have been quite impressed by the guys that he has brought in," added Wright. "I thought Towell did well against Rangers, even though he gave away one of the goals, and I think that he will only get better and better.

"Palsson, has got a real presence about him as well as that physical strength that I think the side has maybe needed.

"Thornhill already seems like a popular signing as well, although I haven't seen too much of him myself yet, but I think all of the boys are going to be able to add something to the team that has been missing for a while.

"The guys who were already at the club will maybe get a bit of a kick up the backside with the arrival of all these new boys because they know that they are going to have to perform week-in, week-out if they want to stay in the team."