Hibs and Scotland hero Hanley talks Steve Clarke show of faith, Easter Road ambitions - and full focus on club
Rangers at Ibrox the priority as Easter Road side chase back-to-back Euro qualification
It’s only natural that Grant Hanley should find his thoughts drifting, on occasion, to a World Cup summer in the early autumn of his playing career. But allowing himself to get distracted? Not going to happen.
The Hibs centre-half, clearly still an integral part of Scotland’s tournament plans and a trusted on-field lieutenant of national team boss Steve Clarke, has learned from experience that losing focus can carry a heavy cost. As he looks to finish his first season at Easter Road with a flourish, making up for injury and suspension absences that have disrupted his contribution to an inconsistent campaign, he’s staying zoned in on club business.
Defender in ‘you know it’s coming’ World Cup admission
Hanley, who says Clarke has never explicitly laid out details of any leadership role the centre-half might play in the Scotland squad, seemed faintly surprised when told that club boss David Gray regularly mentions seeing signs of World Cup fever among Hibs players in with a shout of competing in Canada, Mexico and the USA next month.
“It's probably not like that to be honest,” said the 34-year-old former Premier League stalwart. “You don't really feel it coming up.
“Like I say, for me personally, that is the end goal. We're human at the end of the day; you know that is coming. But you can't look too far ahead of yourself, we've got one day at a time, one session at a time, keep preparing like you always would.
“Because I think if you start looking too far ahead and you start worrying about this, that or the other, that's normally when you trip yourself up. So try and simplify it, try and set up shorter goals to keep yourself focused.”
Having missed a couple of months through injury, but returned to the Scotland squad as soon as he was fit, Hanley picked up a two-game ban for a red card in last month’s defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie. That lack of game time was a concern, with the bigger picture in mind.
“Oh, of course, and I think that's, no matter what the situation is or the circumstances, you need to be playing and playing well at club level to give yourself the best chance,” he said, adding: “So clearly that was on my mind.
“Circumstances can change at times, sometimes with suspension or injuries, you can only make the best of the situation really, so that's what I'm trying to do. Obviously my main focus at the minute is clearly here. But like you said, we've got the summer coming up, World Cup, things like that.
“The main focus at the minute is Hibs, we've got a job to do, we've got targets that we want to meet and goals that we want to achieve. So personally for me it's one day at a time, one session at a time and trying to stay fit and trying to stay in the team.”
Scotland place retained despite lack of game time
Admitting that he’d been pleased to still make the national team squad despite a lack of minutes for Hibs after his injury, Hanley said: “I think it's human nature, if you're not playing or you have been injured, you worry about your place. But it was a wee shot of confidence from the manager, still naming me in the squad, so obviously I was happy with that.”
Gray regularly cites Hanley’s leadership qualities as one of the reasons why Hibs moved for the former Newcastle, Blackburn, Norwich and Birmingham and City defender. Clarke is, as you’d expect, less effusive about explaining the big man’s off-field qualities – even to the player himself.
“Just experience wise and because I've been involved with the national team for a number of years now, maybe that wee bit of experience on and off the pitch, I suppose so,” he said, when pressed on the subject. “I don't think there's ever been a conversation where it's been: ‘This is where I see your role and this is what I see you doing.’
“Obviously as a player first and foremost you want to play, you want to give as much as you can on the pitch for as long as you can. But on top of that as you pick up experience, it's important to try and help the team with that as well.”
With Martin Boyle, Rocky Bushiri and Hanley looking locked into play some role for their respective nations at the World Cup, and one or two others on the fringes, there is extra motivation in the air at East Mains. Yet Hanley insists that the goals set by Gray should be enough to drive everyone forward over the closing two games.
Although he was on the bench for a couple of UEFA Conference League ties early in the season, Hanley has his sights set on a proper European debut after a busy summer. That starts with beating Rangers – out of the title race and with nothing to play for – at Ibrox tonight.
“Obviously at the start of the season I was involved in a few games with Hibs in Europe and that was part of the reason for coming here, to be involved with a club like Hibernian and play and have that challenge of European football,” said Hanley. “Again, that's the goal and that's what we want to end this season.
“And no matter how the season finishes or what happens, it's important to try and keep that momentum going. I think obviously it's been a wee bit up and down for us at times but two games to go, our focus is on ourselves and finishing the season strong.
“I'm not really worried about what anybody else is playing for or what they're trying to achieve. It's what we're trying to achieve here and how we can affect that.”