'Hibs is a platform' - Jack Ross pleased by Cyprus call for Alex Gogic

Midfield enforcer could win first senior cap

Alex Gogic could win his first senior cap for Cyprus

Jack Ross believes Alex Gogic has earned his international chance after his early-season displays for Hibs won him a maiden call-up to the Cyprus squad.

The 26-year-old won caps at under-19 and under-21 level, but had until Friday been overlooked for the senior squad.

The Nicosia-born midfielder could make his national team bow against Montenegro on September 5, or against Azerbaijan three days later.

Speaking after Hibs’ 1-0 win at Dundee United earlier this month, Gogic said he would be honoured to follow in the footsteps of his father Sinisa, who won 37 caps for Cyprus.

Gogic added: “He would be very proud, especially for me to follow his steps and play for the national team. He was a striker scoring goals, but if I can help them not concede then I'll be happy."

Welcoming Gogic’s call-up, Ross said: “It’s nice to see someone so excited by it as well because it means a lot to him to get into that international squad.

“It was one of the selling points we used [before we signed him].

“We felt Hibs was a platform for him to improve but also maybe give him more profile and recognition, and that’s not a slight to Hamilton.

“He knew that, and it has maybe come a little quicker than he might have thought, but I think his performance level has merited it.”

Gogic will be the third member of the Hibs first-team squad on international duty with goalkeeper Ofir Marciano called up by Israel and Ryan Porteous set to feature for Scotland Under-21s.

Ross continued: “It’s good for us as a club to have Ofir away, and Alex. Martin would have been away as well if Australia had been playing.

“So it’s nice for us as a squad to have so many internationals in the group.”