Ex Hibs ace backs summer signing to silence transfer doubters after move as he has perfect fit potential
Stoke City frontman has drawn comparisons to Kieron Bowie and has been tipped to win supporters over
When Hibs announced the capture of Nathan Lowe on a season-long loan from Stoke City earlier this week, his arrival at Easter Road was met with mixed reaction from supporters.
While some are excited by his impressive physical profile, confidence, scoring record at his former clubs and his bold ambition to become the Scottish Premiership's top scorer, many fans were left frustrated that the 20-year-old striker is only a temporary signing rather than a permanent one, leaving the Easter Road club without a long-term solution to their attacking needs.
Lowe has already drawn comparisons to Scotland international Kieron Bowie due to his stature and former Hibs winger Aiden McGeady reckons the youngster will fit right into head coach David Gray’s preferred style of play and can prove his doubters wrong by hitting the goals trail again.
“I know a bit about Nathan through my scouting work for Wigan,” McGeady told the Edinburgh Evening News. “The reaction to his signing online has been quite mixed and I don’t know if that’s because of the way he comes across or whatever.
“I don't mind it, because he’s a young player who is looking to prove himself on a bigger stage. Having confidence is good when it doesn't go into the side of arrogance, I think every young player has to have that.
“He's got a good goal scoring record where he's played at before and I think he will definitely suit the way that Hibs want to play this season.”
McGeady: Hibs’ recruitment has improved drastically
McGeady has been impressed with Hibs’ recruitment in recent seasons and believes the club’s model has improved dramatically since his ill-fated spell at Easter Road under Lee Johnson.
Signed by the former Sunderland boss in 2022, the 93-time capped Republic of Ireland international was unable to make a sustained impact in Leith due to persistent injuries which restricted him to just 14 appearances.
He admitted: “Honestly, I think Hibs have been recruiting well but disappointingly the performances haven't married up to how well I feel they have recruited, especially last season.
“Hibs built on the season before with a third-place finish and they should’ve been looking to finish there again. Obviously, it was a funny year with Rangers, Celtic and Hearts all being in the mix for the league going into the last three or four weeks of the season, but I think Hibs would have been disappointed by where they finished up, so they will be looking to build on that this season.
“I know their recruitment team well. David Marshall is a big part of that and he's got his eye on the ball when it comes to identifying players. I'd probably compare his work to what Celtic are doing in terms of Hibs being a club that look to bring in younger players, give them a platform to develop and then sell them for a profit, all whilst challenging and trying to get success on the park.
“Kieron Bowie is a prime example. They signed him for just shy of £1m, whatever it was, and then he goes on to have a good six months and ends up getting a really good move and they sell him on for a big profit.
“I go back to the team I was involved in when the recruitment at Hibs was poor. When I signed, and I count myself in this, there was something like 12 or 13 players who came in and by the January, Lee Johnson wasn’t happy with about 11 of them.
“But that has changed drastically since David Gray got the job and with Malky Mackay and Marshall both working under him. They look to be recruiting well now, signing young players or getting loans in from English Premier League teams. Again, though, the proof is in the pudding, it has to show in the park.”
Hibs must target third-place finish as a matter of priority
Consigned to an underwhelming fifth-place finish last term, Hibs had to rely on Celtic beating Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final to secure their spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifying stages this season.
While the way their campaign fizzled out will have been a huge disappointment for supporters, McGeady feels his old club’s main focus must be on returning to the position of Scotland’s third-best team.
“I think with Hibs, you're always going to be playing catch-up to Celtic and Rangers,” McGeady added. “I said that a few times last season. All of a sudden, you're looking across the city and Hearts are challenging for the title.
“They went down to the Championship, came back up, finished above Hibs and are now competing for the league. So that has to be Hibs' main focus this season, aiming for third place. It has been done before, so it's not without the realms of possibility. I also think David Gray will want a good cup run as well.”
*Aiden McGeady was speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News in partnership with BetBrain