Exclusive:What Scotland boss Clarke told Hibs World Cup hopeful Mulligan as midfielder embraces 'step up' challenge
Former Dundee midfielder credits coaching staff for improvement since summer move
World Cup hopeful Josh Mulligan has revealed how Scotland boss Steve Clarke challenged him to ‘step up’ into a new leadership role at Easter Road. And the Hibs ace says he’s absolutely determined to keep driving his team on from the middle of the park - even if it means taking a kicking from desperate opponents.
Despite Kieron Bowie bagging a double and Martin Boyle scoring from the spot, Mulligan walked off with Man of the Match honours from Saturday’s home win over Falkirk. Stand-in skipper Boyle had no complaints about that decision, with the Hibs veteran even referencing one of the all-time favourites – and his own former team-mate – as he described Mulligan as giving off “John McGinn vibes” with his recent performances.
A regular in the Scotland Under-21 set-up until ageing out, Mulligan – now 23 – was called up as injury cover for September’s World Cup win over Belarus at Hampden, although he was an unused substitute on the night. Despite limited exposure to the senior squad, the all-action midfielder enjoyed being part of the group – and being put under pressure by Clarke.
Mulligan revealed: “He gave me a bit of advice when I was coming back to Hibs because we were on a bit of a losing streak at the time, telling me: ‘This is when you need to step up.’ I’ve taken that on board.
“So yeah, it was just a bit of advice from him. He told me: ‘If things aren't going well, step up and be that leader.’ That's what I want to be.
“I've not really spoken to him about selection or getting back into the squad. I was only in for a couple of days.
“But I did speak with him. I was at training. He talked about just wee things in training, which was brilliant for me.”
Despite competition for places in central midfield making it hard for any player to force their way into the group scheduled to take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the States next summer, Mulligan is paying close attention – as a fan, at least – to the national team’s chances, saying: “Yeah, the draw was interesting! Probably harder than some of the groups - but you have to look at that and be confident you can get out of it.”
Mulligan and Kieron Bowie both harbour World Cup ambitions
Mulligan set up Boyle to win the penalty and was credited with an assist for Bowie’s first goal on Saturday. But his all-round performance was probably better illustrated by another stat – the fact that THREE Falkirk players were booked for fouling him in the opening half hour.
‘I’m going to take this game by the scruff of the neck ...’
Crediting the Hibs coaching staff for a dramatic improvement in his game awareness since his summer move from Dens Park, Mulligan revealed: “Yeah, I was really happy, especially the first half. You just get into that sort of frame of mind of: ‘I'm going to take this game by the scruff of the neck.’
“I've obviously done a lot of work with the coaches, the gaffer. They've given me a lot of information. Liam Craig as well has helped massively just looking at clips, seeing what I can improve.
“Obviously receiving the ball off the defenders, I think was something I definitely had to get better at. My awareness. I think I have improved on that. But there's a long way to go so I've just got to keep working hard and keep at it.”
Falkirk fouls a ‘compliment’ to all-action ace
On being kicked, pulled and wrestled all over the park by the opposition, a grinning Mulligan admitted: “It was a bit frustrating because there were a few times I was running towards goal and could have maybe slipped somebody in or got an assist. But it's obviously just part of the game.
“If they got another yellow after that, that would have been seen as a good thing because they’d have had a man sent off. So I just take it as a compliment.
“To get the three points is the most important thing. The gaffer was talking during the week about it had been been a year since we've lost two games in a row. So you can look at that two ways. It's obviously a big achievement going that long without losing two games - but it's about how you react
“And I thought the boys were brilliant, especially the first half. We've done everything the gaffer asked and yeah, to get that third goal in the second half to kill the game was good as well.”