Josh Doig has dropped some heavy hints that he could be a Celtic fan after picking up the Young Player of the Year Award from the Scottish Football Writers.
At the age of 18 he is one of the youngest ever winners, picking up the award in his first season in the senior game following a summer switch from Hearts to Hibs.
Aaron Hickey got all of the attention at Tynecastle but Doig has given a glowing testimony to Kieran Tierney as the player he aspired towards.
Without quite mentioning it the Hibs left-back has recalled his admiration for the former Celt, recalling how his Dad told him to keep a close eye on the Celtic number 63 and how he played the position that Doig was looking to make the breakthrough in.
Doig told the Sunday Post:
To win the award over them, it is shocking! It is such a confidence boost for me and a testament for how the team has done this season. I know all the other players on the list and there are a few others who weren’t there, too.
Players I have watched. Last season and before, when I wasn’t in professional football, I was idolising these guys and what they were doing at that age.
Asked about Tierney, who won the award three years running, Doig added:
Growing up, he was the one. Going to games, I always liked to watch him. He was so young but he always had that heart and desire, that aggression about him that was very inspiring. I always remember my dad saying: ‘Keep an eye on him’.
You could tell he was going to go far and what he is doing at Arsenal now is absolutely mental. He’s someone you want to idolise because of what he has done in his career already.
He’s had setbacks, too. I know when he was younger he was told he wasn’t big enough. I was the same, I was so skinny and I got released. Kieran used those setbacks to drive forward. He is someone every young left-back in Scotland should be idolising.
He is such a hard-working person and has that drive that you don’t see so much now. He is a top player now and I try to follow his path as much as I can. I can’t take it for granted because I know I will need to work hard if I want to get anywhere near him.
He was at Celtic for a few seasons and was so consistent. That was his main thing and it’s something I am trying to bring to my game week in, week out. He was playing brilliantly, scoring goals and assists, too. I have looked up the list of past winners, they’re all legends.
Doig had a torrid time on his first visit to Celtic Park back in September when he was substituted after 45 minutes head-head with Jeremie Frimpong.
Yesterday he was in strong form at Hampden as Hibs booked a place in the Scottish Cup Final and the chance to end his first season in the game with a winners medal.
In February Doig signed a new contract tieing him to Hibs until 2025.