McLaren - the one that got away?
After turning in a superb performance in Preston, Andy McLaren may have earned a deal - but not at Hibs

ON THE VERY DAY that Hibs chairman Ken Lewandowski gave a rare interview in the Edinburgh Evening News calling on Hibs fans to back the club in a time of need, it is quite possible that Hibs fans are about to be hit with another setback as the most anticipated signing of the pre-season looks like becoming the one that got away.  Andy McLaren is being linked with a move south with Cardiff City emerging as favourites to sign the former Kilmarnock winger who has been training at Easter Road for the last couple of weeks, and playing the full 90 minutes of the clubs 1-1 draw at Preston on Saturday giving renewed hope to the Hibs support that the popular 30-year-old would be a permanent feature at the clu

"It was a good work-out for the side.  Sometimes you are a bit concerned about making people pay to watch these games, but I don't think anyone can complain about the standard of this game.  Sunderland are still very much a Premiership team, they have not made that many changes yet - OK they had a few missing, but so have we, we had Tam McManus on the bench!

It's a nice headache to have, Tam can play up there as well of course so I believe we have five players who are capable of scoring goals, and they have to do that to try and remain in the team.  Dobbie took his goals very well, I was pleased for him because sometimes it can be frustrating to come in and score right away.  He showed the fans what he is capable of and I think he showed that in particular with his second goal, it's not easy to score from that distance and at that angle, and their goalkeeper is not very small is he!  He is a big lad and to get the ball into that far corner from the angle Steven was at took a bit of doing, and I'm pleased for him that he got himself off the mark.

Grant was not really hurt, I was just changing things around.  Most of the midfield players have played 45 minutes, and we've been organising bounce games during the week that keeps them all ticking over.  Ian Murray has played the last two full 90-minutes because he has not been used during the week and he relishes the games. 

I thought they put a lot into the game, but the result was never important anyway.  Perhaps it is better for them that we did get the draw and they don't get a bit of stick in their local papers!  We still have a fortnight to go before the season, and we still have a bit of work to do in particular defensively, we still have to try and get things organised there.  We will continue to work as I say, we are going forward, defensively though we have to organise.

Andy McLaren has never been on trial here, I know what he can do so he has never been on trial.  We offered him training facilities and we are a wee bit short of bodies to be honest, we had 18 stripped today and that is the 18 available, apart from Colin Murdock and a couple of others who are injured.  So Andy was required to show us what he can do and he has done that, but as I say he has never been on trial.  I know what Andy can do and I think the board know what he is capable of doing as well, we are working hard to try and manage the size of the squad and we have players at the club who are needing to move on unfortunately and that may have a bearing on it.  But Andy showed a willingness to be here, and not being paid!  I feel for him but we are working hard to try and do something.