JOE NEWELL admits the draw of Europe was persuasive in his decision to prolong his stay at Easter Road for another two years.

Despite falling to defeat against Motherwell on Saturday, Hibs are odds on to finish the season best of the rest in third which would allow them a shot on the continent.

Newell was originally brought to the club by Paul Heckingbottom and deployed on the left flank. But it’s been since Jack Ross began to field the former Rotherham man centrally that Hibs supporters have started to the best of Newell. Which is why the news of a contract extension until 2023 was met with such delight from the Easter Road fanbase.

“The gaffer, Graeme {Mathie, Hibs’ Sporting Director} and the club have been great with me throughout the whole process; there was never any rush on either side,” Newell said of the deal.

“I said to them from the very start I’d be more than happy to stay, and they were good with me and sometimes these things just take time, but I don’t think there was any ever doubt on both parts that I was going to stay.”

European football is a distinct possibility for Hibs, with a third placed finish is in their hands heading into the final months of the season. Their 2-0 defeat to Motherwell on Saturday was therefore a real disappointment. Hibs do still hold the aces over Aberdeen who are their nearest challengers, currently four points behind having played a game more. Newell concedes the draw of European football was a big factor in his decision to stay in Edinburgh.

“There’s not many other clubs you can go to {potentially} get European football,” he added.

“That’s the aim we set that at the start of the season to finish in the European places. We know it’s not done yet; we need to maintain our standards and hopefully we will get there.

“That was obviously a big part of {staying at the club}. It’s a huge club in a brilliant city, obviously it hasn’t been ideal the fact that there has been no fans here this season which has obviously killed my short stay a little bit.

“I want to experience the wins under the light on European nights in front of a full house and all that comes with it. That is something that I’m massively looking forward too. The sooner that can happen the better.”

For Hibs to dream of European wins they will need to perform better than they did against Graham Alexander’s Motherwell side on Saturday. Goals from Jordan Roberts and Devante Cole gave the Lanarkshire side a much-needed win as they bid to remain out of the relegation discussion.

Roberts, on loan from Hearts, benefitted from an inch-perfect Tony Watt through ball to race through on goal in the first half and finish through the legs of Ofir Marciano. He turned provider almost immediately after the restart, picking up a loose ball in the opposition half before slipping the ball through to Cole who opened his body up and found the bottom corner.

Liam Kelly had one big save to make from Christian Doidge late on in the second period but that aside, Motherwell’s three points never looked in danger. The result, and perhaps more importantly the performance, calms the conversation of relegation. Cole hopes his side can begin to look upwards rather than peering over their shoulder after the win in the capital.

"With the boys we have in the team we shouldn't be where we are. If we are playing well then I don't expect us to be,” he admitted.

"Yes, there have been a couple of games like against St Johnstone where we haven't quite been at it, but the last couple of games we are back on track, so we need to keep producing performances like here today.”