Hibs striker Grant Holt admits he is relishing Edinburgh’s comedy gold – and hopes he is smiling at the end of the season as the Leith side chase Championship silverware.
The 35-year-old Englishman, who joined from Rochdale during the close-season, is making the most of the world-renowned Fringe festival in the capital after taking in two shows this week.
Neil Lennon’s side get down to the serious business of league action in their first match of the season at Falkirk, who beat Hibs in the play-offs last term, this afternoon and experienced former Norwich City marksman Holt is determined to make sure they are not the butt of jokes in the second tier.
He said: “When you are a good team and you have two sides like that you always end up going head to head, and there is always a rivalry because you both want to achieve the same thing.
“Unfortunately, last season neither team did it and they are here again to do it all again, and I am here to make sure that this year we come out on top of the pile.
“There will be rivalry all year, it won’t just be Falkirk, there will be other teams and we will treat every team with respect, treat them all the same, because they all bring opposition.
“It doesn’t matter if you are playing teams at the top or those who have come down or those fighting not to be relegated, they are all going to be tough tests and anyone who watched Hibs last year knows how well teams perform when they come to our stadium.”
The 35-year-old, however, dismisses the notion that victory today would sent out a statement of intent.
He added: “You don’t lay markers down now.
“That’s later on and there’s a lot of games and a long way to go, so it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and although we want to win every game, the boys know what we need to do.
“If we can keep hitting consistent levels week-in, week-out, and we know we can achieve that, then we will definitely be there or thereabouts.”
Speaking about how he is making the most of the Fringe festival in Edinburgh, Holt added: “It’s a bit busy at the minute.
“I’ve been getting out and about to a few shows. On Wednesday night I saw Sarah Callaghan and she was very good. It was Nina Conte on Thursday night. I’m doing the rounds.
“I’m from Carlisle and I’ve been here in Edinburgh a lot. I’ve lived away from home a lot before and I got my flat and my home comforts sorted, which is key.”
Colourful Hibs forward Jason Cummings brings his own unique style of humour to the dressing room but Holt insists the 21-year-old’s confidence is at least matched by his actions on the pitch.
Holt added: “He’s not as bad as is made out. He’s just not very good at giving interviews. I’m lucky, I’m 35 and I’ve done lots.
“When you have someone like Jason who is very open and doesn’t think before he speaks, he can say something that he thinks is funny and doesn’t realise how it comes out.
“But one thing with that boy is his talking on the football pitch backs up what he says. I’ve seen plenty people before who talk a lot of rubbish and don’t do anything on the pitch.
“I have had a quiet word with him over what he says but he’s learned his lesson. He’s come at me twice on Twitter twice now and I’ve absolutely battered him and I will do it again.”
