Recovering Hibs virus victim sets sights higher than Arthur's Seat excursions amid Celtic 'perfect game' claim
SPFL basement dwellers take on reigning champions in Edinburgh tomorrow
Having risen from his sick bed to look down on Easter Road from the heights of Arthur’s Seat, Marko Ivezic now has his sights set on elevating his new team’s altitude. A win over the side currently sitting atop the Scottish Premiership summit would be a decent way for relegation-threatened Hibs to begin their ascent up the table.
Ivezic, who arrived on Deadline Day but spent his first weeks as a Hibs player flattened by a virus, stuck in quarantine and then unable to train, never did get a chance to play under the manager who signed him. But he’s started in both of Marink Reedijk’s games as gaffer.
Just being on the park is a relief to the Serbian central defender, who was playing with Holsten Kiel in the German second tier. But there’s no doubting that he’d like a first win to sweeten the experience of joining a new club.
“Yeah, I was ill in that period when I came here and it was really frustrating for me because I cannot give from the first day everything on the pitch,” admitted Ivezic. “Everyone expects from the player when he comes that he can train and give from the beginning.
“But I didn't feel that I can from the first day, so it was a little bit frustrating the first few weeks. I'm really happy now that from this international break I can train and play normally.
“It was just like the first week that I was ill. Later, I had to have progression with training. So, I was here also. To be honest, it's a really bad feeling when you come here and that happens. It's everything new and nobody knows you well and what you can give to the team and everything.
“I met everyone here without being on the pitch pitch, so they don't know me. It was a little bit frustrating, but now it's perfect.”
Bundesliga clashes with Bayern Munich
Having played for Holsten Kiel in the Bundesliga proper, taking on opponents up to and including the mighty Bayern Munich, Ivezic can’t be expected to start getting all jittery about tomorrow’s visit of Celtic. Even if the visitors do lead their hosts by the full length of the Scottish Premiership table.
“It's a perfect game for everyone, for the whole team, that we show that we can do together,” she said: “Yes, I had a lot of these big games against big clubs. So every game brings you something new.
“And you grow up as a player. So you go out from the game as a better player. So they give you an opportunity to improve. It's a big opportunity.
“I played against Bayern Munich in the season when we were in Bundesliga. So I played basically against these old Bundesliga clubs. It's a good feeling, as I said, after every game. You learn something new, because you're playing against top players.”
The jury is still out on Ivezic after just two games, obviously. Comfortable enough on the ball, he’s still been part of a team who have lost two out of two, falling to Dundee United at Tannadice and then Falkirk at Easter Road. The 24-year-old hopes he’s beginning to settle into a new environment that, he insists, hasn’t hit him with many huge surprises.
“You’ve had these two games to see me, and I hope that you will see more in the future,” he said. “But basically, I would describe myself as good on the ball, aggressive, quick. So that's these things that I would say maybe.
“What has surprised me about Scottish football? Maybe nothing. I didn't expect something special. It's a really competitive league, physically, intensity. So it's basically how I expected.”
Being ruled out of action with a virus – one that went from being described as wee to very bad in a matter of days – at least meant Ivezic could rest up and settle into Edinburgh. As you’d expect, he’s loving live in the capital. Especially if it means climbing up a ruddy big hill to take some photos of the ‘office.’
“It's a really nice city,” he said, adding: “For me it's a little bit different than other cities in the rest of Europe. It's really nice and I really enjoy the time out on the beach. Every week is better and better. So now when I'm still adapting, it's a really nice life here.
“I just went up to Arthur's Seat and through the city. I saw the stadium from there and I was taking pictures. It’s nice here.”