Hibs adventure and Edinburgh experience living up to expectations for Boro loanee Barlaser
‘Intense’ Scottish Premiership everything he expected it to be
With a better half constantly planning Edinburgh days out with two kids under four in tow, Dan Barlaser is certainly getting the all-immersive capital experience out of his loan spell at Hibs. All made much more enjoyable, of course, by how he’s performing on the pitch.
The Middlesbrough midfielder has surprised many by just how quickly he’s adapted the mayhem of the Scottish Premiership. A quick brain and fast feet have seen him cruise through some daunting tests, with his playmaker’s performance in Saturday’s win over Dundee an ideal example of what he’s brought to David Gray’s team.
It helps, he insists, that he’s settled so well in Edinburgh, the 28-year-old revealing: “Tourist stuff? Yeah, we’ve been doing the Christmas markets and stuff. It's me and my missus, to be fair. She takes us everywhere, so I just follow her and the kids.
“I wouldn't say travelling, but we've been to the museum. There's that many things she's took us to. It's more like, because we live in central Edinburgh, we just go for a walk, and we end up where she wants to go, really.”
Natural No. 6 does best work in the shadows
By his own calculations, Gateshead-born Barlaser has only been stopped twice by fans. For a first-team regular who lives in the heart of the city, that is either a sign of a vast change in society – or a testament to the fact that, like so many in the No. 6 role, he does the best of his work in the shadows.
Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath complete midfield trio
Come game day, of course, he’s got the help of having Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath as partners in arguably the most well-balanced midfield trio in Scotland’s top flight, Barlaser saying: “Josh covers everything, doesn't he? Jamie does as well. I think Jamie goes under the radar as well, how much work he does.
“But Josh is a very, very good player. He's a very good technical player as well, I think. A lot of people say about his running, but he's very good with the ball going forward as well.”
Asked if Mulligan should be targeting a World Cup place with Scotland next summer, given his involvement on the fringes of Steve Clarke’s squad, Barlaser said: I think you can say that, but obviously, I think the Scotland squad's been kind of the same since the manager's been in, so it'll be tough. But 100 per cent, I think he can get that level.”
Happy to describe himself as very nearly a Scot himself, given his home in the very north east of England, Barlaser has definitely felt comfortable with the people at his new posting. The intensity of both the game and the fans has been exactly what he wanted when he agreed to the loan move late in the transfer window.
“I'd say North East fans are similar to the Scottish fans, very passionate,” he said. But obviously, if you go further down south, I think it's a bit less intense with the fans. I'd say it's similar to North East fans, I'd say.
“I knew it was going to be intense. And obviously, I think people say English football is probably better than Scottish football. I don't think that's the case.
“I think there's a lot of good technical players in this league, and I think it gets better and better every year. I've spoken to a couple of people who've played up there and said the exact same thing. I've enjoyed it being very intense, and that's been the case.
“And I'd say it comes from the fans as well. I think the fans are very passionate, which makes the players up for it. But like I said, I think the intensity is very good for the league.”
Hibs can further strengthen their hold on third place – and move within touching distance of weekend opponents Celtic – with a win at Motherwell tonight. Given the plaudits afforded the Steelmen this season, you could be forgiven for thinking that David Gray’s men were about to take on a side pitched somewhere between the Brazil team of 1970 and prime Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets-Messi-era Barca.
Asked if Hibs would need to stifle the home side at Fir Park, Barlaser insisted: “Definitely - but we can play better football than them, in my opinion. I think we're very good with the ball.
“The threats we've got up front as well, the pace we've got, I think we can go there and stamp our authority on the game, do well and get three points.”