Hibs fans deliver clear derby message to Easter Road ace amid Owen Elding status update for Hearts clash
Edinburgh sides locked together in SPFL table ahead of tomorrow’s first meeting of season
It’s a wonderful sort of obsession, built on a rivalry that, for the most part, benefits from staying just on the right side of civility when required. Which possibly explains why, touch wood, even a recognisable Hibs star like Jamie McGrath can go about his life in Edinburgh without attracting the wrong sort of attention.
The Irish international midfielder, a culturally naturalised Scot who has turned out for exactly one third of the country’s top flight teams, signed on at Easter Road because he wanted to be involved in something that means everything to those who follow the club. Especially in a week like this.
McGrath has loved derby experience
McGrath, smiling as he revealed details of his regular interactions with supporters ahead of tomorrow night’s Easter Road showdown with Hearts, explained: “Yeah, I think that's the benefits of being at such a big club. I'm living quite locally as well, so you'll be made aware quite early on how much it means to everyone.
“Going to the supermarket and stuff like that, bumping into people here, there and everywhere. That's just the perks of playing for a big club. You get to play in these big games and big games bring big opportunities.
“That's what you want as a player. Tomorrow night's another big opportunity that we want to try to grasp and come out the right side.
“You get all walks of life. I was in the club shop yesterday picking up a few bits from my brother and his family.
“I had quite a few interactions in there yesterday. I think they're all in a similar line of: ‘Just don't lose the game!’
“We all know what it means to everyone. As players as well, we want to try to test ourselves.
“Obviously Hearts had a great run last year and they've obviously qualified for Europe. It should be a good test for us to see where we're at. We're really looking forward to it.
“You can feel it bubbling for the last few days, even around the city. I've been made well aware not to lose the game.
“In the club shop yesterday and stuff like that. It's exciting as a player, really excited for it. No better feeling when you come out the right side.
“Personally, when I signed last year, everybody was obsessed about the derby from minute one. I think that's the first thing you learn when you come here.”
Key men missing for Easter Road hosts
Asked if living in Edinburgh ever attracted the flip side of all that encouragement from supporters of his own team, in the shape of even good-natured ribbing from those who call Tynecastle their spiritual home, McGrath laughed as he said: “To be fair, not really actually. Maybe I'm not the right side of the city for that.
“I've obviously got a few shouts here and there and everywhere. Maybe not half as pleasant as what I'd like!”
Hibs head into tomorrow night’s derby missing a number of key contributors to the cause, with Owen Elding not yet fit enough to risk in a game – and Warren O’Hora now a Leicester City player. The loss of his compatriot, however much financial sense it makes, has been keenly felt by McGrath.
“That's the hard thing about football is you make so many mates,” he explained, adding: “Obviously the nature of football is you're here one day and you're gone the next.
“It's hard going in and seeing Warren's locker cleared out. Not hearing the Dublin twang in the morning. But it's obviously a great move for him and his family. We have to try and move on as quick as possible.
“There's no better way than tomorrow night to try and get a win.”
New signing Marko Izevic may be a long-term replacement for O’Hora, who has been the most consistently impressive Hibs defender for a good year now. But the Serbian won’t be cleared and ready to face Hearts at short notice tomorrow night.
The performance of Jason Kerr in Sunday’s away win over Dundee, the lifelong Hibs fan switching to the right side of central defence in a flexible back four, has convinced many at the club that they have a ready-made solution to the O’Hora sale already in the building.
McGrath, paying tribute to his old pal and fellow Irishman, said: “From a playing point of view, he's obviously a calm presence back there. He's good on the ball. Leader on the pitch, leader off the pitch.
“But the gaffer has signed Jason this year. He's obviously walked in and been brilliant.
“He played there Sunday. He's been so consistent since he's come in. We're more than capable of replacing him.”
Gray confirmed, meanwhile, that Irish attacking talent Elding won’t be fit to play any part after suffering a calf injury that kept him out of the weekend win at Dens Park, the gaffer saying: “Owen is going in the right direction, but I think he's going to come up just short on this one, unfortunately. It took him a wee bit longer to settle than we'd hoped, from his initial presentation.
“The nature of his injury, it has progressed quickly, but it's just sticking a wee bit just now. Once he gets over that initial period I think he'll be back pretty quickly, and we're hoping we know the effects off the back of that.
“But we've not managed to progress him as quickly as we'd hoped, in this period. So he's not going to be available for tomorrow night.”