Hibs star reminds ex Scotland boss of 'a young Broony' as Hearts factor puts spanner in assessing season works

He’s watched him develop into a rampaging midfielder - and there’s shades of Scott Brown in the way Josh Mulligan conducts himself at Hibs according to Gordon Strachan.

The former Scotland boss has known the versatile star since he was a teenager and watched his emergence into the senior fold at fellow Premiership side Dundee, where Strachan is technical director. Mulligan signed for Hibs last summer and has instantly become a mainstay for head coach David Gray, who sorely missed his presence through injury in a 4-1 loss against Falkirk at the weekend.

January’s transfer window is open and boyhood Hibs fan Strachan knows there’s rumours around Mulligan, and striker Kieron Bowie. Strachan managed Scott Brown in his early days at Celtic, a move earned off the back of showing his promise as an all-action midfielder at Hibs. Mulligan’s style reminds the ex-Scotland and Hoops manager of ‘Broony’ as he admits only the Easter Road side and the national team have had the power to send him back to a state of fandom in recent times.

What Hibs player provides memories of Gordon Strachan?

He told the Evening News, in an interview with Poker Scout: “I've known Josh since he was 15. Josh has always been a strong boy, strong runner. I used to say to people, Josh is like a young Broony when he used to get the ball, driving through people and leaving people in his wake. I think he's adding a wee bit of composure now to his game, which is great. He seems to be enjoying himself, which is terrific. He's definitely turning heads.

“As for Kieron Bowie, yes, he can go on, and have a great career. As a childhood Hibs fan, you're wanting them to do well. I still have a soft spot for Hibs to do well. I hope Hibs get better and somewhere along the line they go and challenge Hearts again. As I said, the last game was terrific that I watched. I sometimes go back into my supporter mode. I very rarely go back into a supporter mode. Last time was Scotland vs Denmark because I'm analytic. Everything I see, I have to take things in, but I do kind of lose myself a wee bit in a Hibs and Hearts game. It takes me back to the days when I was a 14-year-old bampot!”

Saturday’s defeat to Falkirk coming off the back of Scottish Cup elimination against Championship side Dunfermline Athletic has brought disappointment to Leith. Strachan reckons Hibs have still had plenty of good moments this season after a third place finish last term, but Hearts’ move to the top of the league makes the landscape a difficult one to assess. Gray’s side are fifth, five points off Motherwell in fourth and 16 away from the league leaders, Falkirk having the chance to go above Hibs this weekend if they pull off a shock win against Celtic at Parkhead and Rangers win at Easter Road against the Hibees.

Gordon Strachan on Hibs season so far

Strachan said: “All Hibs fans want to do, no matter what you think about it, is be better than Hearts. That is it. Do they want to be better than Celtic or Rangers? Not so much, although that would be good. Do you want to be better than Hearts? Yes, we want to be better than Hearts.

“But I still think from a football point of view, they've done a lot for the game this year. Would the manager be disappointed at times? He probably would be, yes. There's a lot going on at Hibs. It's just been overshadowed by a smashing Hearts machine that's moving on. Going back to what I said at the beginning, all Hibs fans want to do is be better than Hearts and vice versa.

“Hearts are now going into a position where they’ve kind of forgotten about Hibs. They’re after Celtic and Rangers, and Celtic in particular, which says it can be done. But it can be done by good planning, Tony Bloom coming in, bringing a top manager in Derek McInnes, so it can be done.”