Hibs goal hero reveals first start timeline and dream move motivation as teenager outlines Celtic inspiration
Elding on growing up with Hoops striker Johnny Kenny - and drawing inspiration from Kieron Bowie example
Teenage Hibs signing Owen Elding has revealed how a desire to play grown-up football played a major part in his decision to pick Easter Road as the next step in his career development. And the former Sligo Rovers forward insists there is “no better environment” for him to improve as a striker.
Elding marked his first start for Hibs with the opening goal in yesterday’s 2-0 home win over St Mirren. The 19-year-old Englishman, who moved to Sligo aged seven when dad Anthony signed for Rovers, opened his account with a deft glancing header.
David Gray kept starting news late
Signed late in the January window, he’d been given 25 minutes in the 0-0 home draw with Rangers – but was then kept on the bench for both the home win over Dundee United and the midweek loss to Hearts at Tynecastle. The reigning PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year was surprised, then, to be told he was in the starting XI just a couple of hours before kick-off yesterday.
Elding, who has the whole family travelling in hope of seeing him feature for Hibs at Celtic Park next weekend, said: “I found out I was playing about one o’clock. The manager pulled me into his office and said: ‘Get your head around it, you’re playing’. It wasn’t a lot of time to prepare but I had to be ready.
“The family weren’t here for the game for they’re coming next week. When I’m in the team, all I can do is score. Hopefully I’m in the team next week.”
Explaining the thinking behind his decision to move at the end of the Irish season, having banged in a dozen goals for Sligo, Elding revealed: “There was a bit of interest towards the end of last season. It went quiet in the off-season but Hibs came back in again. I came to visit and liked what I saw.
“There were a lot of clubs interested last summer but I wanted to stay put and finish a strong season with Sligo. When Hibs came in, I was ready to go.
“There was a lot of under-21 or B-team football but my mind was to play men’s football and keep developing. I spoke to Jake Doyle-Hayes, who was here for a while and had nothing but good things to say about the club.
“Johnny Kenny lives literally round the corner from me in Sligo. He had a good time and Sligo and got his own move. He’s been flying at Bolton since moving on loan from Celtic.
“He was a big inspiration of mine coming from Sligo and the same village. I just want to carry on what he did.
“Johnny wants to play football, that’s why he’s gone to Bolton. I think he was unlucky not to get more minutes at Celtic. He is good, a lovely lad as well. I’ll give him a text this week and see what it’s like at Celtic.”
Hibs goals get top stars ‘recognised’
While Kenny provided local inspiration, every young striker signing on for a tour of duty at Easter Road is hanging onto the example of Kieron Bowie – who parlayed a £600,000 move from Fulham into full Scotland honours and a £7 million move to Hellas Verona – as a case of what can be done, if the stars align. Hibs boss David Gray admitted to using the Bowie example in his talks with new recruits towards the end of the January window.
“If you score goals at first-team level, you get recognised,” said Elding. “That’s the plan for me.
“Kieron was great when he was here. He’s a striker, he did his job by scoring some goals and he was recognised.
“The manager just wants me to be me. He doesn’t want me to do anything I haven’t done before - just play my game and hopefully score some goals.
“I’d like to kick on as a footballer. There is no better environment to do it in and there is no better feeling than scoring out there.
“I wanted to play first-team football. I played men’s football for the whole of last season and didn’t want to take the step back. Coming to Hibs was perfect for me.
“The pace of the game here is a little bit different. You’ve got to fight in every game. I’ll need to get used to the speed of play. I like to think I’m good in the air, especially in front of goal.
“My dad having been a player helps, definitely. It’s massive to have someone who has played the game and knows all the ins and outs. I couldn’t ask for more. I checked my phone and I’ve already got a couple of messages.”
Dad will be there in Glasgow next weekend. And it’s fair to say a few mates back in Sligo will be tuning into Celtic v Hibs, as well.
“There are a lot of Celtic fans in Sligo and they won’t be too happy if we beat them next week,” revealed Elding, the frontman adding: “All my pals are Celtic fans.”