BY DARREN JOHNSTONE in La Manga – Capital City Press
Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs has praised Scott Allan’s commitment after the midfielder returned to the club’s La Manga training base just 24 hours after attending the birth of his first child.
The sought-after Allan rejoined his team-mates yesterday afternoon after initially jetting back to Scotland on Wednesday when he was told that partner Natalie had gone into labour ten days early.
Zac was delivered on Thursday afternoon and after spending a few precious hours with his son, the 23 year-old flew back to Spain to continue his preparations for the new campaign.
Stubbs, whose side play their first pre-season game against Wigan in the Spanish resort this evening, said: “I think it’s been an exciting couple of days and a nervous couple of days for Scott.
“He got a phone call on Wednesday morning early to say his partner had gone into labour. He asked the question about whether he could go back home but he didn’t need to ask, he could have gone straight away.
“He asked and we got him the earliest flight possible, and it was great he was there at the birth.
“There was a willingness from him to come back and there was a willingness on our behalf for him to come back too.
“He respected the fact that I was prepared to let him go back no matter what.
“He was there and it’s great he is back with us now, we can get on with the business of getting some minutes into him now.”