So far out of the picture was Jair Tavares that he and Will Fish weren’t even sharing the same changing room until September.
Banished by former Hibs manager Lee Johnson, the Portuguese spent his weekends watching from the stands when he wasn’t turning out for the youth team. Against the odds, though, he’s grasped the clean slate offered him by Nick Montgomery to become a key player for the Easter Road side.
Tavares started and finished Hibs’ free-flowing opener in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park, the first time this season that the Leith side have recorded back-to-back victories in the Premiership. On-loan Manchester United centre-back Fish confessed to barely even noticing Tavares around the club after first moving to Edinburgh in January, but the 20-year-old insists his formerly frozen-out team-mate deserves huge praise for making himself the centre of attention.
"Massive credit to him,” said Fish. “I don't think he was in our changing room before the new gaffer came in. Fair play to him, he's moved countries, he's left everyone behind and hats off to him, he's stuck at it and now you can see the talent he's got. I feel like the squad and the fans have a good connection and it's nice for him to do that [celebrate in front of support].
“He deserves it and hopefully he can kick on - you never know what might happen. I'll be honest with you, when he wasn't training us I didn't actually see too much of him, but since he's come back under the new gaffer, the way he wants to play, he looks like a totally new player.
“Playing out from the back, I think it was a cutback and Jair finished it. That's something we work on and it goes to show that the stuff we are doing on the training pitch is starting to come out in the games.”
Lewis Miller headed Hibs into a two-goal lead after the interval, only to then find himself heading for an early bath, thanks to two innocuous bookings. Dundee pulled one back late on through Owen Beck, but the visitors held on for three points that lift them into the top six.
READ MORE: Everything Will Fish said on being Hibs emergency right back and his own future
Montgomery’s side had made an unfortunate habit of throwing away points from advantageous positions this season, but in their last two fixtures have dug in late on to grind out a result. And the relief was especially palpable for Miller after his untimely dismissal
"Lewis is alright - because he scored he's got a bit of leeway!” said Fish. “He's still a young player and red cards happen, it's one of those things. We got the win and that's all that matters.
"Losing leads does play on your mind to an extent, but when you are in the game you focus on your job. It definitely does cross your mind but hopefully Saturday can help us turn a corner and kick on. I did think that, to be honest. But red cards happen in football and everyone has got to dig in. The last half-an-hour was a good test of our character.
"You've got to keep going at it. We did manage to hold out and that will be a big confidence boost for the boys. We can build on that, look back and review, even things that could get better for the future.”
It certainly feels as though things are looking up on Leith, but just how much better could they get? Fish believes Hibs should be striving to put themselves right in the mix for third, maintaining that although he understands Man United hold the right to take him back in January, he’s in no rush to go anywhere.
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"It's still pretty early in the season,” said Fish. “But under the gaffer, his coaching team and the way he wants to play, I think a few more tweaks and building on leads, we can easily push for the third spot. I think United do [have a recall option] but to be honest with you, those discussions haven't been had yet. It's not something that I'm actively looking to do.
"I feel settled here, one hundred per cent. I'm enjoying the style of football and I feel like the team is going in the right direction. If I stay here, that's something that I would love to do.”
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