Hibs summer signing backed to become Easter Road stalwart as man who's walked in his shoes sends verdict
A Hibs summer signing has been backed for long-term Easter Road success.
Paul Hanlon reckons centre-back Jason Kerr can handle the responsibility of being a boyhood Hibs fan at the heart of the Easter Road side.
The summer import from Wigan Athletic has had to step up early doors in Leith and more will be needed under new boss Marink Reedijk. Warren O’Hora has departed and injuries have hit the backline, with Kerr already donning the captain’s armband away to Ross County, in their 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final success.
Hanlon grew up a Hibs fan and played over 500 times before departing for Raith Rovers over two years ago. He’s liked the look of Kerr so far and reckons the 29-year-old can become a long-term stalwart in Leith.
Paul Hanlon on Jason Kerr
2016 Scottish Cup winner Hanlon said: “I look back at myself now, there's probably a lot that I took home with me, that I really felt, probably in the harder times, especially when you're captain and things like that, it can be difficult when it's not going right. You're obviously desperate to do well for yourself, first and foremost, for your teammates, and obviously you know what the feeling is from the fanbase when you've got friends, family and all that as well in the area.
“He seems to be playing well from what I've watched. I seen had an armband on at some stage in the Ross County game, so clearly highly thought of, and from the outside looking in now, a really good signing for the club. He knows the league, and I'm sure he'll be a stalwart for a number of years now."
Now 36, Hanlon is still loving life at Raith Rovers, where he features in defence alongside fellow Hibs icon Lewis Stevenson. Dougie Imrie’s side are second in the Championship and the centre-back insists he’s still got plenty hunger for football with his contract expiring at the end of this season.
He explained on how things are going at Raith: "Great, yeah , brilliant, obviously personally I had a bit of an injury at the start. I missed a lot of pre-season in the Premier Sports Cup. I managed to get myself back fit for the league campaign and we've been great, great start so far, got a fair few points on the board. it's still early days, obviously we're not even through the first round of fixtures yet, so that's when you get a proper gauge once you've played everyone once, and see what kind of points tally you've got at the end of that. So far so good, you obviously want the points on the board as early as possible and we've done fairly well at that so far.
“As long as my body feels good, I always feel like I've got that kind of love for football. I love playing every day, I love training, sometimes I need to manage my body a little bit in terms of aches and niggles at my age. I think the main thing for me is, if I'm in the starting XI every week and Raith Rovers are doing well, then there's no reason to worry about what's next.
How is Paul Hanlon doing at Raith Rovers?
“I should be able to keep playing in the next year or so. It's just a bit of looking after myself, now there is, like I said, there is times where, like Monday's or whatever for example, I might need an extra wee bit of recovery, but it's just knowing your body now at my age."
Left-back Stevenson turns 39 in January but there’s still no slowing down for the Easter Road hero who is keen to maintain his place in the team amid heightened competition. Hanlon, speaking following the conclusion of the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup First Round Draw which took place at Barclays Hampden, added: “I try and hold him back as much as I can to be honest, save me a run out there!
“He's another great example in terms of his fitness, his attitude to training every single day, his attitude to the gym. He's fit and strong with all the fitness tests we do compared to the rest, he's right up there with the best in the squad. I think he'll be, 39 in January, but he's still the fittest, strongest at the club, and plenty left in him as well, but he's probably a bit disappointed at the minute being out of the team with that Zach Delaney coming in and doing so well, he's just found himself a bit unfortunate.
“I know Lewis well, and when he gets his opportunity, no doubt he'll come in and he'll be eight, nine, or 10/10, and he'll be slot in no bother. This is probably the best we've been at Raith in terms of having that competition all over the squad. We do have two players for every position now, we don't have loads of young kids. There's a couple starting in midfield, but most are established senior players, so it is a healthy competition."