'I want to settle down' - Stephane Omeonga hints at making Hibs move permanent

Stephane Omeonga has indicated that he would like to make his move to Hibs permanent.

The Belgian midfielder returned to Easter Road for a second loan spell last Friday after a loan move at Cercle Brugge in the first half of this season didn’t work out.

Omeonga insists he would have returned to Easter Road last summer if the decision had been solely up to him. With no prospect of a future at parent club Genoa, to whom he is contracted until summer 2021, the 23-year-old is hoping that another positive loan stint at Easter Road over the next few months will pave the way for a more permanent arrangement.

“I want to settle down for a bit and maybe Hibs is a place I can be for more than just six months,” he said. “Recently I have been moving and moving and moving and having to prove myself all over again at a new club. I have another year on my deal with Genoa but they are bottom of Serie A right now, so if they go down there is no point in me going back there.

“As I’ve said before, I don’t feel as good there as I do here. We will need to see what is possible about me staying, but the most important thing for now is that I do well on the pitch and then we will see what happens.”

After making just four appearances at struggling Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge, Omeonga is delighted to have the chance to get back on track at a club where he knows he is appreciated. “My biggest regret is that last summer I wasn’t able to come back here,” he said. “When you get a second chance in life, you really have to take it.

“People gave me a lot of trust and a lot of love when I was here last season and that was the first time I have really had that in my career. It gives you more energy on the pitch.

“I am hungry to play and I just wanted to feel trusted again. Here I feel like everything is in my own hands. It is up to me how well I do. I can go out and show people what I am capable of and that’s what I wanted to feel.”

Omeonga hasn’t played since October, but is set to be in the squad for this evening’s meeting with Hamilton Accies at Easter Road. “I am fit and ready to play,” said the Belgian. “I feel really good even though I haven’t played for a while. I miss a little bit of rhythm because I haven’t played but that will come when I get games. I’ve done a few tests and the results were the same as last season.”