Liam Henderson meets Hibs fans at Easter Road

Midfielder Liam Henderson has been speaking to Hibs fans outside Easter Road as the Scott Allan transfer reaches a conclusion.

Henderson went on loan to Rosenborg earlier this year with Ronny Deila keen for the midfielder to get as much first team football as possible.

With Celtic well placed for midfielders a season long loan as Hibs battle for a return to the top tier could give Henderson the experience to return to Celtic ready to hold down a regular top team place.  

Henderson made his Celtic debut as a 17-year-old under Neil Lennon and scored in the 5-0 win over Partick Thistle that clinched the 2013/14 SPFL title.

Speaking in April about the Rosenborg deal Deila said: “Our youth players have to be good enough and we have to get them on the road to get there. Liam Henderson, for me, is maybe the best Under-19 player in Scotland but in terms of first-team level he is a good Scottish Premiership player.

“He is talented, very talented, but he’s not better than a good Scottish Premiership player. He would play in 70-80 per cent, maybe even 90 per cent of the other teams but again it’s important to tell a young player you are the best player at Under-17 in Scotland but you are a Second Division player for me.

“You have the best chance to get up there, though.You have ability and opportunities to reach that level and when you come up to the first team that’s because you are talented – not because you are good enough yet.

“But then you have to work really hard just to get up to the first team. Liam is that – he’s been the closest of the youngsters. He was born in 1996 and he has played 15 games for us, that’s good at Celtic.”

Henderson is expected to be joined at Hibs by Dylan McGeouch.

UPDATE Celtic have confirmed Henderson signed a new three year contract before completing his season long loan to Hibs.