JACKSON IRVINE inflicted Hampden heartbreak on Hibs.
Now the Australia ace is determined to lift silverware with the capital club.
Irvine, 27, was announced as Hibs’ second January capture on Tuesday, penning a contract until the end of the season with the Easter Road outfit.
The combative midfielder is no stranger to Scottish football, having emerged through the ranks at Celtic before starring for Kilmarnock and Ross County.
His finest hour for the Staggies came in March 2016 when he helped them lift the League Cup – defeating Hibs 2-1 courtesy of a last gasp Alex Schalk strike and silencing the legions of fans from Edinburgh.
He said: “That was an amazing day and it felt like a real achievement.
“Clearly the day was all about County but I do remember the Hibs supporters packing out Hampden and that did leave an impression on me.
“Because I’ve tasted that, it’s something I’m desperate to achieve again and there’s no reason we can’t, given the abundance of talent in this Hibs squad.
“The boys want to achieve something special and we’re still in two cup competitions, plus the hunt for a European place.”
Irvine departed Scottish football in 2016, landing a summer switch to Burton Albion before becoming a mainstay with Hull City until his release last July.
Irvine continued: “I’ve added experience and leadership qualities since I’ve been down in England, so I want to bring that character to the group here.
“There’s no shortage of ability here. I just want to do what I can to help push the group that bit further forward.
“Basically, I’m a player who likes to help bring the best out of my team-mates, whether it’s in games or training.”
Irvine, who has turned out for the Aussies 34 times, adds further international experience to a group which already includes full caps in the form of Ofir Marciano, Paul Hanlon, Martin Boyle, Alex Gogic and Jamie Murphy.
And it was in the Socceroo set-up where he first linked up with ‘fantastic’ Boyle, who will be among his new teammates at Easter Road.
Irvine laughed: “I don’t think he even knew I was coming in! There’s always so much to get over the line with transfers now that I wanted to keep it to myself until everything was sorted.
“But he knows what I think of him.
“He’s a fantastic type. A brilliant personality in the dressing room and a fantastic player on top of that.
“I played in his debut for Australia and I’m looking forward to seeing him back in the international fold after he had a rough time of it with injury. He’ll be welcomed back into the camp.”
Irvine, meanwhile, paid tribute to Socceroos legend and Oldham Athletic boss Harry Kewell, who allowed him to train with the League Two outfit as he sought to build up his fitness ahead of the January window opening.
HUNGRY
He told Hibs’ official website: “I owe a massive ‘thank you’ to Harry Kewell, the staff and players at Oldham.
“You can only do so much on your own and nothing compares to being in with the group.”
Hibs boss Jack Ross added: “We’re delighted to be able to add a player of Jackson’s calibre to the squad and I think he’ll complement the other players that we have.
“Jackson has played at a high level as an international. He can go box-to-box, he offers a goal threat and he’s hungry to play.”
