Why Hibs midfield signing is destined for the very top - and where he fits into team now
Full international at 21 - and absolutely suited to bare-knuckle bedlam of Scottish game
David Gray believes “exciting” young Hibs talent Miguel Chaiwa has been acquired at exactly the right stage of his career – and has promised to help mould the 21-year-old Zambian into a “top midfielder” capable of going much further in the game. Chaiwa, signed from Swiss side Young Boys for an undisclosed fee at the start of last month, is pushing hard for a regular place in the centre of the park.
The full international, hoping to add to his 11 caps in next week’s World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Ndola, made just his second Hibs start in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren. But he caught the eye of Hibs fans with a stunning solo goal in last Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League thriller against Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital.
Miguel Chaiwa bagged a crucial Euro goal against Warsaw
Although described as a “defensive midfielder” in the official club announcement trumpeting his arrival, Chaiwa still has plenty to learn before he can fill that role, according to Gray. But the gaffer is absolutely adamant that Hibs have landed a potential star in a player perfectly suited to the physicality of Scottish football.
“He's a young, exciting player,” said Gray, the former club captain adding: “He's got a lot of brilliant attributes. A lot to learn still as well.
“He's got so much energy. Positionally, we've got a lot to work on him with. He's got a brilliant attitude to working towards it.
“He's aggressive, he's athletic. A proper modern day midfielder. When you look at that, he's really competitive. Good energy and technically good as well.
“I think he's got all the right tools to be a top midfielder. We've got him at a time where he's still got a lot of improvement to come as well.
“From a coaching point of view, loads of things to work on him with. I think he's going to be a good asset for the football club longer term.”
Willing recruit to physical SPFL Premiership
Asked if it was tough to persuade a youngster to voluntarily sign on for the bare-knuckle scraps that typify midfield battles across the Scottish Premiership, Gray insisted: “I think it really suits him, the way he plays as well. He really enjoys that side of the game. I think you can see that.
“He's not the defensive-minded one right now who just sits in the middle of the pitch. He's got far too much energy for that right now.
“I think as he gets older and matures, that will be more of a position that we can move him in towards. But right now, he's so competitive, he's so athletic.
“As you've just rightly touched on, that means he’s very suited to Scottish football when you think about what has to be required to play in the middle of the pitch in Scotland. I think a brilliant example of that is the team we played against on Sunday.
“St Mirren have got three real good athletes in the middle of the pitch and before you even think about trying to play the way you want to play, you need to be able to stand up to that and match that athleticism and aggression in the middle of the pitch. Because it's something that Stephen Robinson's team is very, very good at.
“In the Scottish Premiership, there are a lot of players who have got really good legs and energy. And that's the way the game is going now, with real top athletes who are all trying to get better all the time.”