LEWIS Morgan last night backed his old gaffer Jack Ross to transform Hibs’ fortunes – but laughed off the suggestion he was being lined up as a potential loan signing for the Easter Road club. Having earned his big move to Celtic by excelling under him as St Mirren won the Championship title, Morgan was then taken to Sunderland by Ross as their bid to return to the second tier of the English game ended in the play-off final against Wembley.
That clearly wasn’t enough for the Black Cats board but the Scotland international winger is convinced that Sunderland’s loss will be Hibs’ gain, after the 43-year-old joined the Easter Road club on a three-and-a-half year deal at the tail end of last week.
“I texted the manager to congratulate him,” said Morgan, who was an unused sub as Scotland won against Cyprus in Nicosia. “It’s a great appointment for Hibs.
“I obviously have worked with him before and know him really well. He’s a top manager and an excellent coach. I’m sure he will be a success there.
“He was brilliant with me,” Morgan added. “I think he’s the same with all of his players, he just managed to give them an extra yard.
“All the players who work with him can expect to improve, he’ll bring them on. The Hibs boys should look forward to playing for him, he’ll get them playing good football.
“He was massive for me. I was playing regularly for St Mirren when he arrived but he helped bring my game on. It was really that last season under him where I really kicked on and caught people’s eyes. So I owe him a lot.
“I think he was harshly treated down south. It was a tough job at a massive club. Expectations were high.
“I don’t think the fans were desperate to get him out or anything. But in terms of the work he did, I think you can still see the progress now, the way they are going.
“Given the right amount of time I am sure he would have created something really special down there. But it’s a great appointment for Hibs. I wish him well every success – just not against us!”
If talk of a loan move along the M8 has been fuelled by the way Celtic appear to have used the player sparingly, in fact Neil Lennon has handed Morgan no fewer than 13 appearances already this term. He offers depth to the squad in the wide areas, has certainly seen more playing time than the likes of Maryan Shved, and is likely to be in demand when the fixtures come thick and fast during December.
“I know people have mentioned it [going on loan to Hibs] but he hasn’t!” said Morgan. “I just texted him to wish him well and he replied but that was it. I am just concentrating on working hard at Celtic.
“I know I haven’t played as much so I was delighted to get called up by the gaffer for the Scotland squad and it’s about trying to impress in training,” he added. “I just want to keep trying to improve at club and Scotland level.
“It’s been brilliant at Celtic and the boys have been playing brilliantly. Obviously, it’s frustrating, no player is happy when they are not playing. But all I can do it work hard and try to impress the manager and be ready for when I get the chance to prove myself.
“The double headers are tough and the manager is going to need everyone. It’s been good to be away and part of it and I’ll be ready if the manager needs me.
“It’s the same with Celtic. You look at the run of fixtures and there’s a lot of games from now until Christmas and everyone will need to play their part.
“There games always come thick and fast with Celtic and you need to ready. I want to feature as much as possible and maybe get more minutes than I have recently. But that’s down to me.”
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