Scotland World Cup hero gets Hibs boss backing as David Gray makes vow over Grant Hanley role for run-in
Former Newcastle, Norwich, Blackburn and Birmingham defender grateful for Steve Clarke faith
Hibs boss David Gray has backed Grant Hanley to continue playing a major role for Scotland – despite the veteran central defender’s lack of first-team football.
And Gray insists Hanley, fully fit and available to line up for Steve Clarke’s men in the crucial pre-World Cup warm-up games against Japan and the Ivory Coast, can still make a vital contribution over “seven cup finals” as the Easter Road club chase European qualification.
Hanley has only played 45 minutes in a training-ground bounce game against Raith Rovers since picking up a hamstring injury in the February 1 home draw with Rangers. Declared fit but left out of the squad for the recent visit of Livingston, the 34-year-old was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park.
Defender answered SOS as Scotland secured World Cup berth
The experienced international, who stepped back into the Scotland starting XI when John Souttar limped out of the warm-up for November’s qualification-clinching win over Denmark at Hampden, has spoken about the importance of Clarke showing faith in him even when he was battling back from a potentially career-defining injury. Gray says the fact that Hanley continues to be part of the national team manager’s thinking is a sign of the regard in which the former Blackburn, Newcastle, Norwich and Birmingham defender is held.
“A hundred percent,” said the Hibs gaffer. “I think even seeing that the last couple of times he's played for his country, he's been a fantastic servant for the country. His level of performance has been excellent.
“We could have used him in games but he’s coming back from injury, so we decided to put him in a better place heading towards the end of the season, with seven cup finals to go. We’ve got someone like him, a player who has played at a really high level, really experienced, for the run-in.
“We’ve conversations with Scotland, they know where he's at in terms of his recovery. It's not as if he's not fit for Hibs yet and he's away with Scotland. Not at all.
“He's at that point where he's available for selection. And it just shows you how highly he is regarded.”
With 66 senior caps to his name, Hanley remains a player more readily appreciated by coaches than supporters. Gray is in no doubt over what the big man brings to any squad.
“I think his career speaks for itself,” he said. “He's been captain at many clubs he's played for and the caps he's had.
“He's a natural leader, the way he is, his voice, his experience, the way he plays the game. And he's had an outstanding career.
“I spoke about it a couple of weeks ago about when Junior Hoilett was here, something very similar. Dwight Gayle, very similar.
“Boys who have played at the very top end of the game. But still hungry as ever, professional as ever, making sure they do the right things. And Grant certainly falls into that category.”
Clarke support vital during injury recovery
Hanley, meanwhile, has spoken about the role played by Scotland in helping him extend his career when he was battling back from a long-term Achilles’ tendon injury, telling BBC Scotland: “I had an injury that, at certain stages, I wasn’t sure I was going to get back from. Then coming back and being nowhere near the level I wanted to be, you’re asking yourself questions about the future.
“Getting up first thing in the morning and going running on your own, you’re thinking to yourself: ‘Is this all going to be worth it?’ The self-doubt and the knocks to your confidence, those were the hardest things I’ve had to go through.
“Going through rehab, then trying to get back in the Norwich team, and then going to Birmingham and not really playing much. All that time, the manager (Clarke) kept giving me opportunities – and I’ll be forever grateful.”
Hanley is one of half a dozen Hibs first-team players on international duty. Miguel Chaiwa is part of a Zambia squad taking on Argentina in Lionel Messi’s final game on home soil, while Ante Suto and Martin Boyle are both looking to earn World Cup berths in Australia’s penultimate pre-tournament friendlies against Cameroon and Curacao.
Rocky Bushiri is playing for the biggest stakes, as the Democratic Republic of Congo look to secure their place in this summer’s finals via a play-off against either New Caledonia or Jamaica in Guadalajara. And Munashe Garananga is representing Zimbabwe in a four-nations tournament in Botswana.
Gray, who has one obvious wish for all of his players currently scattered across the globe from Buenos Aires to Sydney, said: “Yeah, there's a few big games. Rocky will be away chasing a place at the World Cup. Obviously, Ante and Boyle going around the other side of the world.
“Ante's never totally done that, but Boyle's done that many times. So there is a few that have been called up, which is great. There's a few younger ones as well.
“For me, I just want them to come back as healthy as they possibly can. You want to wish them all the very best, especially going into some big games or opportunities to try and get to the World Cup.
“But more importantly, the guys that are going away can stake a claim to make sure they're on the plane for what's coming if they are going to the World Cups. It's an exciting time, the business end of the season.
“This is when you've still got an opportunity to make an impact as a player. This is when you certainly want to be doing it.”