Hibs star hoping to fulfil Easter Road-minded friends and family requests over Conference League showdown
The Hibs star is a boyhood fan and hopes the club can break new ground this week.
Jason Kerr hopes to give his Hibs-supporting family and friends the extra European trips they crave by defeating Gent on Thursday night.
The Easter Road side have a home tie with the Belgian club in their Conference League play-off second leg following a goalless away draw last Thursday. It provides them with a big opportunity to become the first Hibs team to reach the league phase of a UEFA competition by coming through a play-off tie victorious and a boisterous home crowd will support them.
A boyhood Hibee, Kerr has had those close to him amongst the travelling support this summer, with punters having already been on their travels to Kosovo’s Malisheva, Shkendija in North Macedonia and Ghent last week. He now hopes an Easter Road night to remember is in order so they can have three more in the league phase before Christmas time.
Jason Kerr on Hibs in Europe
“I've had a few going to the games” said Kerr. “They've just been saying that they want a few more, so we're going to do our best. They're all proud, they're all buzzing for the game and hopefully we can do them right. I think both teams will have to come out at some point, but I've got full confidence in the team and the players we've got under us now that we can really get a positive result.
“Europe has been a really good experience. It's something all the players want to do and keep doing. We all really enjoy it, you get to play at nice stadiums, you get to go to countries you've never been to before and play against good players – what's not to like? I think we just all want to get to the next stage now. Every player wants to play in Europe, it's what you dream of as a kid, to play in Europe and play at the biggest stage you can. Everyone really wants to do it. All the lads are buzzing, can't wait to get started.
“It's obviously a massive game, it's the second half of the tie you could say, at 0-0, so there's a lot to play for. We know there's still a really good side with a lot of good players, so we need to be mindful of that, but we've got full confidence in ourselves. It's going to take a lot from every player. Nobody can have a day off. Like I said before, they've got a lot of good players, a really good side, and if they turn it on, we need to be up for it. But I've got full confidence in the players we have in the dressing room.”
Hibs came within minutes of reaching the league phase in the Conference League last season before a gut-wrenching extra time exit to Legia Warsaw in Poland. They have built on strong performances against the likes of Legia and Partizan Belgrade last season under head coach David Gray by thumping Malisheva at home while Shkendija and Gent have both been held to stalemates on their own patches. Kerr reckons Hibs belong on the Conference League stage.
Can Hibs qualify for the Conference League?
“I think so,” he explained. “I think, showing the last few games we've played in the qualifying stage, we're more than capable of playing this competition. I just think if we're on it, then we've got a right chance. It's a massive lift for us to have Easter Road hopefully sold out and roaring. It'll be a massive boost for us to hear that and to lift us. Hopefully the game doesn't go wrong, but if it does, they'll be right behind us, supporting us.
“This would massive for everyone at the club, obviously the supporters as well. It's something obviously Hibs have never done before, so it'll be history in that sense. I think every player in the dressing room really wants to do it. We've got full confidence that we can do it.
“We know no Hibs team have ever done it but it's something that we're not really thinking about much. We're just thinking about how we begin, how do we get the better of them on the day and if we can do that and we're all on it, then we've got a right chance. They might come out a bit more at us, but I'm not quite sure. That's something that they'll obviously know themselves, but I'm fully focused on what Hibs are going to do. I know there's been a lot of good nights at Easter Road. Hopefully this will be one of the best.”