Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom has revealed there are no plans to extend Ryan Gauld’s loan deal from Sporting Lisbon this summer.
The midfielder has been restricted to only four Premiership starts in a total of six appearances for the Leith side since joining in January after being hampered by a hamstring strain.
Former Dundee United starlet Gauld had returned to Scotland hoping to relaunch his career, with his much-hyped £3 million move to Portugal not going as planned.
The 23-year-old, whose deal with Sporting runs for another 12 months, has only managed five first team outings for his parent club either side of loan spells at Vitória de Setúbal, Aves and Farense.
And Heckingbottom hopes Gauld can get the game time he desperately needs elsewhere.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Aberdeen, Heckingbottom said: “I had a chat with Ryan and I would have loved to have had him fit here all the time.
“He showed enough in the short time he came back for me to see the attributes he has got.
“Technically we know he’s a good player, tactically he is excellent, his understanding is great.
“For me next season Ryan has to be playing somewhere to show what he is about and to develop himself as well.
“You can get lost in the game, people’s opinion of you can become warped.
“And the only way to take control of that is by playing.
“For me that’s a big, big thing for him, his family and his agent, to get him back playing.
“Your outlook changes on the game as you get older. All you want to do is play and he’s certainly driven enough.
“He needs to find a home and get playing, or play to find a home if he goes out on loan again.”
