LEIGH GRIFFITHS does not like to associate football with frustration.
Having barely featured for Wolverhampton Wanderers since joining Mick McCarthy’s side in January, it would perhaps be understandable if the striker felt a little agitated or angry but, on the contrary, the 21-year-old can only smile at the mention of his latest move.
“To play for Hibs is really a dream come true,” he said. “I got a phone call about a possible loan move on Thursday night and was told to get the last train up so that I could have a medical on the Friday morning. As soon as I got the word, my bag was packed.
“I was a season ticket holder at Easter Road and used to go and watch them play almost every week, so to be involved in it all now is pretty strange. I feel like a wee boy waking up on Christmas day, because it’s still not sunk in yet.”
Hibs, though, are all too aware of that sinking feeling as they languish at the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The Edinburgh side, under Colin Calderwood, have lost four of their opening five games and have gathered only one point. The international break will therefore provide some much needed time for recuperation, and Griffiths also hopes to improve his match fitness, as Billy Stark, the manager of the Scotland Under 21s, has included the forward in his squad for Monday’s European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria.
“I’m trying to take things one game at a time,” he said. “I’m going to focus on the match against Bulgaria, then return to Hibs and see what I can do before even thinking about anything else.
“I came back up here to try to get some more first-team experience. I think I’ve been brought in to try to score goals and help the club finish as high up the league as possible.
“I want to play at the highest possible level, which I think is in the Premiership. I look at somebody like [Wolves team-mate] Steven Fletcher for inspiration. He’s started the season unbelievably, and was at Hibs before he got a move to Burnley and then eventually Wolves. Training with guys of his calibre -- Kevin Doyle, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake -- can only help you improve.
“In that respect I just need to look at my time with Hibs positively, and use the new skills I have, but the focus for now is still on the international qualifiers.”
Another youngster eager to prove his worth is Rangers’ Gregg Wylde. The 20-year-old winger signed a new five-year-deal at Ibrox last week, bringing to an end weeks of speculation over his future.
Wylde was the subject of a failed £400,000 bid from Bolton Wanderers and informed his manager Ally McCoist that he wanted to commit to the Scottish champions instead. Wylde has started the last three games for the club and scored his first senior goal against Motherwell a couple of weeks ago.
Speaking from the Scotland Under-21’s base, he said: “There’s still plenty to come from me. I showed a wee bit last season but I’ve still to learn a few things on the training field and hopefully I can build on that. Hopefully I can show the manager what I can do. He knows what I’m capable of doing but I also need to work hard.
“When the bid from Bolton came in, the gaffer spoke to me straight away and I made it clear to Ally that I wanted to stay. He offered me a contract that I couldn’t knock back so I decided to stay. I’m a Rangers fan and I like working with Ally.”
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