New Hibs signing in promise to Easter Road fans as multiple title winner makes 'on their feet' vow
European football and Hearts pushing Celtic all the way both factors in SPFL appeal
Callum Wright wants to get Hibs fans on their feet. He’s also got a burning ambition to add more goals and assists to his game.
But, above all, he’s absolutely committed to one core principle of football. If he’s not running around and knocking his pan in for the cause, you’ll know that something is very, very wrong.
Lured north by the attraction of European football, his interest piqued by watching a certain other club have a right good go at toppling the Old Firm duopoly at the top of the Scottish football, the English midfielder became David Gray’s second signing of the summer window when he agreed terms on a two-year deal earlier this week. A double Player of the Year winner during his loan spell at Wigan last season, the former Plymouth Argyle player has gone straight into the first week of pre-season training – and is raring to start proving himself to a new supporter base.
Midfielder reveals top quality
Already looking forward to a first proper Easter Road game day experience, he’s given punters a fair idea of what to expect, the 26-year-old telling Hibs TV: “I'm energetic, 100 per cent. I give everything in the middle of the pitch. I work for every ball, every loose ball.
“And I want to add goals and assists to my game - and obviously get the supporters on their feet. But at a minimum they'll get 100 per cent from me and I'll run round the pitch as much as I can for them
“I can't wait. I had a taste of the stadium last week when we came down to see it and it looks amazing. I've seen clips on YouTube and stuff like that, on Hibs TV and I just can't wait to get going in front of them.
Hibs an exciting ‘project’
“I think it's just a project. The club's obviously in the European qualifiers of the Conference League. A massive attraction for me.
“It's something different to what I've done in England and you don't get that in England unless you're in the top of the top really. So it's obviously a massive attraction.
“The club's achieved it for two years on the very close getting into the group last year. So I think the project of it and wanting to push on with that and obviously competing in the league, seeing what teams have done this year in the league and compete with Rangers and Celtic. I want to be involved in that.”
Wigan were desperate to make Wright’s move permanent after a big season for the Latics last year. Hibs had to fend off interest from a number of clubs for a player who has won multiple lower league titles down south.
“Obviously I've won League Two and League One in England,” said Wright. “And I think the last couple of seasons before I went out on loan to Wigan, I sort of slowed down a little bit in my career trajectory.
“And then obviously last season I went out on loan and that's what the loan was for, to try and get me back going. It really worked out, it was successful and I'm ready to kick on again now. I think this is an important move in my career.”
Wright has been reunited with former team-mate Jason Kerr at East Mains this week, the pair having played together at Wigan last season. When the midfielder first learned of interest from Hibs, his skipper at the League One outfit was an obvious first port of call … even if he wasn’t aware of Kerr’s own impending move to Edinburgh.
Asked who he’d spoken to for advice on Scottish football, he said: “Funny enough, Jase, my skipper at Wigan. I spoke to him about it probably a couple of months ago, about eight weeks ago, six weeks ago.
“He never told me about him. He raved about the club and then it materialised with him as well. It was a mad situation because then he messaged me saying: ‘I think we might be going together…’
“So obviously, Jase is from here. He's from Edinburgh. He raved about the city, he raved about the club. As soon as I came and saw this, I knew what he was talking about.”