Player makes Hibs return after loan transfer recall as first team exposure to continue
The goalkeeper has returned to Hibs after time out on loan in the SPFL.
A Hibs player has returned to Easter Road after being recalled from his loan at an SPFL side.
Goalkeeper Freddie Owens was used as a poster boy for the Scottish FA’s new co-operation loan system, that allows Scotland-eligible youngsters to play for both their parent club and partner side, increasing senior playing time. He played more minutes than any other player covered by the revamped arrangement as the Hibs talent topped the rankings for the first part of the season with 1170 minutes up to the end of October during his time at East Kilbride.
He’s played 25 times across all competitions at Mick Kennedy’s side but that agreement has now come to an end. Owens will continue to gain first team exposure in training with David Gray’s senior side who face Falkirk in the Premiership this weekend.
Freddie Owens returns to Hibs latest
A Hibs statement reads: “We can confirm that Freddie Owens has been recalled from his loan spell at East Kilbride. The 20-year-old spent the first half of the 2025/26 campaign with the William Hill League Two side, where he featured regularly in the starting XI.
“The young goalkeeper enjoyed an excellent first half of the season, making 25 appearances in all competitions, keeping six clean sheets and helping Mick Kennedy’s side up to second in the league table. Owens will now return to HTC, where he will continue to train with the Development Squad and David Gray’s First Team.”
East Kilbride added: “East Kilbride FC can confirm that Freddie Owens has been recalled by his parent club, Hibernian FC. We would like to put on record our thanks to Hibs for their cooperation & to Freddie for his service to the club. Everyone at EKFC wishes Freddie every success for the future.”
What influence does David Marshall have at Hibs
Former Hibs and Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall is in charge of loans at Hibs and Owens credited him this month as a major influence. He said: “Yeah, so it was really, really bizarre, to be fair. When he was still playing, I was third choice for a few games, and I've always looked up to him, especially him playing for Hibs, getting for Euros and everything like that - and then helping to save my career has also just been brilliant.
“I think playing's the biggest thing you can get, especially because I'm a goalkeeper, you can get stuck some places, because I've got the cooperation. Like if I'm needed for a Hibs game, I can play for Hibs, if I'm needed for East Kilbride, I'll play for East Kilbride.
“Just cooperation, you're hand in hand with both clubs, like parent club and your own club, which is really, really helpful. So it's usually 50-50, East Kilbride and Hib. It’s usually Hibs during the day, East Kilbride at night. I'm surrounded by people everywhere, help-wise, so it's really good.”