Nectar Triantis fully deserves his call-up for Australia. Sadly, I’m not sure it’s a good long-term thing for Hibs.
He’s been brilliant for manager David Gray in the past few months and his form has been a real factor in the upturn of the team.
Triantis’ first spell at Easter Road didn’t really work out playing at the back. But, as a midfielder during his second spell, he’s been outstanding. He’s won a first senior call for the World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China and the manager Tony Popovic has had plenty good things to say.
Triantis has a bit of everything. He’s mobile, he can get about the pitch, he can put his foot in. He’s very composed on the ball. Can see a pass short and long.
He’s scored a couple of goals this season, he’s had a few assists. He can get forward into the box. He’s just an all-round good footballer. As I said, since they moved him into the middle of the park, that’s been the making of him.
Popovic watched him against Celtic at Easter Road and he had a great game. He’s just a quality football player and Hibs would love to keep him.
That’s where this call-up might cause an additional problem. It’s hard enough to think Sunderland might let him back for a third loan spell even before this.
Now Triantis is attracting even more attention. It might not be a goer anyway. Much might depend on whether Sunderland can get into the play-offs and get themselves into the Premier League.
I don’t think Triantis is a player for that standard at this point in time but he’s definitely capable of playing in the Championship and, at 21, his club will be wanting serious dough if they want to offload him.
Hibs offered £1million for Luke McCowan and paid close to a million for Dylan Vente. But Sunderland are going to want more. Given the market south of the border, there’s no way an Australia international is getting to leave for £1m.
They’ll want £3m or £4m and other clubs will have an eye on him, too. On that score, I doubt he’ll be a Hibs player next season. Unless it’s another loan and that is something that should be high on the priority list.
The ball is in Sunderland’s court. If you’re a Hibs fan, you’ want Sunderland to go up. That increases the chances of getting him back to Easter Road.
He made a couple of appearances for Sunderland a couple of years ago. They’ve put him out on loan again to Hibs and if you’re Gray, you have to be talking to them and sowing the seed.
He’s been really impressive but when you get guys like that up at that age from a big club like Sunderland and they do well, you hope to maybe get them back on loan again. You’re not going to have the money to sign them. Sadly for Hibs. But they’ll at least get the benefit until the end of the season. Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller are with him and, if I was Kieron Bowie, I’d be taking motivation from James Wilson’s call-up for Scotland.
Looking at Scotland’s strike options. Kevin Nisbet has hit a purple patch and there was the opportunity for Steve Clarke to bring in some younger ones. I don’t think Bowie is ready yet, nor Wilson. But the shout for the Hearts kid should give a drive to the Hibs man.
That Stevie’s selected Lennon Miller of Motherwell and Hearts’ Wilson must encourage every young player in Scotland.
The call-up for Triantis is also good, in terms of what it will do for his belief. But in terms of long-term prospects, it might just snuff out any lingering hope Hibs had of getting him back.