HIBERNIAN have signed one of the greatest Australian footballers of all time, a born leader and player who will be respected the moment he walks into the dressing room.

Mark Milligan is but one man, however, what a man the new signing is according to Jamie Maclaren who still can’t quite believe his fellow Australian, a cult hero back in their homeland, is coming to Easter Road.

Now 33, Milligan has played in four World Cups, has amassed 71 international caps and enjoys a status Down Under normally reserved for Ashes winning captains.

The name won’t be familiar to too many in Leith and that is down to bad luck. Milligan would have ended up in Europe long before now but red tape prevented him from being issued a permit until now.

And Hibs striker Maclaren is astonished and delighted he will be sharing a dressing room on a daily basis with someone he considers to be a living legend.

He said: “I’m a bit surprised we have captured Mark because he is such an experienced player who has been at four world cups with Australia. He will bring a lot of quality to the side.

“He’s very versatile whether he is playing in midfield as a sort of number six, centre back or even right-back as he did in his younger days. He is going to bring leadership as well, is a top leader, and has captained Australia before.

“I think someone like him has always had a burning ambition to play in Britain but unfortunately for him, because of visas, he has not been able to do that.

“We’ve always talked among ourselves in the national team that Mark is probably one of the best players Australia has produced in terms of natural ability. He has been about in Asia but he has had a fantastic career. As I say I’m surprised we’ve got him but I am happy.”

McLaren is due a word of thanks from Neil Lennon for the grafting he put in over the last weeks and months to sell Hibs and Edinburgh to Milligan, whose last club was in Saudi Arabia which came after spells in the UAE and China.

McLaren revealed: “We had a lot of conversations, even when we were at the World Cup, and he was asking me about Scotland.

“He knows Tommy Rogic at Celtic, Daniel Arzani is there now, there are boys at Hearts as well; there’s a lot of Aussie influence in Scotland

“I told him; ‘Hibs is a big club, believe me mate, the city, everything, you will enjoy it.’

“For Mark it’s about family and really enjoying being here. I’ve told him that it’s quality. He wants to be part of something successful and that’s what we are building here.

“We have spoken quite a bit over the last month. I have told him the positives and not too many negatives, and that’s going by my experience since I have been here I have not had too many negatives and that’s great for me to pass on to him.

“But he doesn’t need a 25-year-old to tell him what to do, he’s seen the success we had last year and wants to be part of it.”

Hibs could do with some physicality down the spine of the team and a player who has a reputation of leading, not following, is right up Lennon’s street.

And they also need flair which is what Irishman Daryl Horgan should bring. The former Preston North End player shone against Ross County on Sunday, his first start for the club, and despite it being the winger’s first 90 minutes in some time, had enough about him to score a quite superb winner in injury time.

McLaren said: “He is going to bring something different, whether coming on or starting there’s always going to be some players who will create something out of nothing and he is that sort of player. I thought he was probably one of our best players on Sunday and he is a great addition to our squad.”

Lennon does need to sort out Efe Amrbose who was at fault for Ross County’s second goal on Sunday and hardly covered himself in glory at the first.

However, he does seem to have a good squad once again, certainly if Milligan lives up to his billing. Hibs look strong once again.