Exclusive:Motivation for Hibs attacker revealed as injury anguish and World Cup disappointment driving European ambition
Easter Road hosts UEFA Conference League clash with FC Shkendija on Thursday night
Another option on the bench, at least. Another attacking weapon capable of bringing genuine threat into the opposition box. Oh, and he’s just looking for a way to vent his frustration.
Ante Suto, a player whose default intensity setting is 11/10, has returned from a niggling, infuriating, momentum-stopping knee injury – the medial cruciate ligament, if you’re interested – with his appetite for destruction undiminished. If ever there was a man desperate to score, it’s the Croatian-born Australian international hopeful.
Socceroos hopeful made first start of season on Sunday
Suto, who made it as far as the final pre-tournament training camp in the USA before missing out on World Cup selection for the Socceroos, came off the bench in Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 home loss to bogey team Motherwell. Being unable to find the net as Hibs pushed for a winner, only to be caught out by a late counter-attack, prevented the experience being entirely enjoyable.
Still, with Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League clash with KF Shkendija looming, the 26-year-old has reason to hope that his fortunes will change soon.
Providing details of the injury that kept him side-lined until Sunday, Suto said: “It was the MCL, on my left knee. It's been four weeks now. I'm still feeling it, but I feel I can help the team, so I'm back now.
“Yeah, it was in the middle of the pre-season, in training, almost the last second of the training, out of nowhere. No one was around me. I just hit the ball and my knee twisted and I felt it.
“But now I feel good. I'm looking after it. I'm doing everything I can to recover.
“Physios, the team is helping me and I think we made a good progress. We're still not there, but we're close.
“I mean, it's frustrating to sit games out any time. I think it's the worst thing when you look at the team and you cannot help.
“Against Motherwell was a bit easier because I was on the pitch and you have a feeling you can help the team. I didn't manage to help, or to score a goal anyway. But I think I'll be back soon - and I'll help the team as much as I can.
“It’s a good time to come back, with such a big game coming on Thursday. And we feel we deserved more from Motherwell.
“We had plenty of chances. I thought we controlled plenty of the game. We had plenty of chances, but we were not clinical enough. I think on this level, moments decide and they had their two moments and they won the game.”
North Macedonian opponents a step up in class
Shkendija represent a definite step up in opposition for Hibs, who came back from an embarrassing first-leg defeat to eliminate Kosovan newbies FC Malisheva at Easter Road last midweek. Suto, who had played all of his youth and senior football in Croatia before joining Hibs back in January, can offer at least a little bit of insight into what to expect.
“I have a few Macedonian friends and I'll ask them, but I don't have really much information,” he said, adding: “But of course they will be technical.
“Every team from the Balkans, from that area, they all know how to play football. They are also really passionate.
“So we know it’s going to be two really tough matches against them. But hopefully we can get through.
“That would be a good thing for the club, obviously. We really want to play league stage football, that is our target, and we’re going to give everything to try to do that.”
Suto scored four goals – all as a substitute – after joining Hibs on Deadline Day, making a late charge for World Cup selection. Qualified for Socceroos selection through Australian-born dad Tony, the versatile attacker was called up by national team boss Tony Popovic – but cut from the extended squad before the tournament.
Reflecting on his bid to compete in the biggest tournament in football, Suto smiled as he said: “I was there for one week. I think I had a good camp. I think I was close to making it, but there were a lot of good players. I think they did really well.
“Of course, I was disappointed, but everything happened so quickly for me. I was disappointed, but proud of me that I made it to there. I had a chance, but hopefully I make the next one.”