BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Hibs midfielder Fraser Fyvie reckons Rob Kiernan will be a pivotal part of Rangers’ promotion push – and confessed he helped to sell his former teammate on the switch to Scotland.
The pair were on the books together at Wigan Athletic between 2012 and 2015 and regularly lined up in the same Latics reserve side as they toiled to make an impact in the first-team.
They remained close enough for Kierney to contact Fyvie when the Gers’ interest in him became apparent, and the Easter Road star had no qualms about recommending a move north of the border.
As the pals prepare to compete for the Championship crown, Fyvie is relishing challenge of battling the “bully”.
The ex-Aberdeen kid smiled: “Rob contacted me before he signed. He asked about Scottish football in general and the club.
“I have never been at Rangers but, from the outside, it is a huge club and the fan base is sensational. It was probably hard for him to turn down and I’m looking forward to playing against him this year.
“He is a really good guy. At Wigan he was in Scouse family – he’ll know what I mean by that! But I think he is a good acquisition for Rangers. He is good on the ball and anything you put in the air . . . he is winning it.
“He is a big guy and loves the gym so he can bully people and he is not short of a bit of pace either
“I will look forward to meeting up with him up here. I’ve not spoken to him since he has signed but I’m sure I will get a text from him in the next few days.”
Meanwhile, Fyvie welcomed Scott Allan’s revelation yesterday that he has no intention of leaving Hibs this summer, despite interest from both sides of the Old Firm.
Fyvie has no doubt Allan is destined for bigger and better things, comparing him favourably to any of his former teammates – which include the likes of James McCarthy, Shaun Maloney and Jordi Gomez.
However, he is delighted that Hibs’ talisman looks set for another campaign in the Championship.
Fyvie, who signed a two-year deal during the close season, added: “Everybody saw last year that he was the best player in the league. From the things you see in training and what he does on the pitch, he’s up there with the best I’ve ever played with.
“Some of the things he does really make you think ‘how did he do that?’ Scott is one of those guys that, if you’re in trouble, you just give him the ball and he’ll deal with it.
“If you pick out any player in team as a game changer, you look at Scott. If you want to grab a goal or get an assist – I think he set up around 20 goals last season – he is the one.
“I’ll be surprised if big clubs don’t come in for him, but the fact he’s said he’ll stay is massive for the club.
“If he can stay here for another year, win promotion and get player of the year again, then he’d be in a good position to get a big move from there if that’s what he wants to do.”
