Loanee, Greg Docherty, earned praise from Jack Ross, as quoted by the Daily Record, after putting in a Man of the Match display for Hibernian on Wednesday night, while Rangers were failing at Kilmarnock.
23-year-old Docherty left Ibrox on deadline day in search of playing opportunities, having not made a matchday squad under Steven Gerrard since August.
It was abundantly clear that the manager believed he wasn’t quite up to standard, with the likes of Ryan Jack, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield and Glen Kamara all streaks ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, on a night when the Gers’ failed to control the midfield once again at Rugby Park, the bluenose was asserting his authority at Easter Road.
Docherty made his Hibs debut at the start of the month, and then scored and registered two assists in a Scottish Cup win over BSC Glasgow at the weekend.
There were to be no tangible contributions in the final third during a 3-0 win over Ross County on Wednesday night, but he impressed with an energetic display and earned praise from his new manager.
“He’s been everything I expected he would be,” said Ross, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I was fortunate in that I got to see him last season at Shrewsbury when we played them with Sunderland he was really good, he’s a good player.
“He’s something we needed in the team and he has brought that to the squad and I think he is loving his football, too, which is terrific for me.”
There was a general consensus that for all his endeavour and physicality, Docherty’s passing range wasn’t quite up to the standards required from a first choice Gers midfielder.
At times like these, it’s important to avoid knee-jerk reactions and to remember that he did have opportunities to impress at the beginning of the campaign.
However, should he go on to dominate for Hibs over the second half of the season while Gerrard’s chosen midfielders continue to falter, questions will be asked about why he was cast aside.
