Hibs 0 - 0 Aberdeen: Composed Jorge Claros offers Hibs reason for optimism on debut

Jorge Claros looks to have been a good signing. Picture: SNS

By MARTIN HANNAN
Published on Monday 13 February 2012 02:09

AMID all the hurly-burly at Easter Road on Saturday, there was a glimpse of the almost mythical creature, the midfielder who can “put his foot on the ball” and think about his next pass.

Jorge Claros, Hibs’ new loan signing, is that man. During his debut in the 0-0 draw against Aberdeen, Claros always seemed to have just a tiny bit more time to do things on the ball, and thus his short passing in particular was exemplary.

The Honduran international is a tough chap. At his club, Motagua, he rejoiced in the nickname “Pitbull” and he survived being shot in the head last June when thieves attempted to steal his car.

Yet it may well be for the quality of his passing and positional play that Claros will be remembered. He showed in a game situation why both Celtic and Rangers have wanted him, and Hibs appear to have done a fine bit of business in signing him for a year.

Claros has already made a big impression on his new colleagues at Hibs. Lewis Stevenson was moved from his usual berth in central midfield to the left wing – where he played very well, it should be said – but was delighted to welcome Claros into a green shirt.

“He is going to be a top player for us,” said Stevenson. “He has taken my position in the middle but you just have to accept that sometimes.

“He has played for Honduras 15 or 16 times, so he is a quality player. Hopefully, he can be that spark which gets us up the table.

“He has got a bit of everything to be honest. He is good on the ball, he can tackle and he has got a great engine. He has everything you want from a midfielder these days. Hopefully, he will be a great addition.”

Claros is trying to fit in, despite being unable to speak much English. Stevenson explained: “It is hard for him speaking a different language but he is a nice guy and tries hard to speak to all the boys. In training, he is enthusiastic. He could easily think he was above himself coming to Hibs but he has not shown that at all. He works just as hard as everyone else.

“He hasn’t been with us that long and he had to go back and get his work permit so he missed a couple of days. He has trained a good week with us and he has been good.”

Given Claros’s pedigree, Stevenson, understandably, feared he might not be in the starting XI on Saturday. He said: “You always fear the worst thinking that is you for the season when he came in, but I am just happy to be playing. We have signed a few players but I have managed to keep playing.

“If the manager changes it then fair enough. I am not the kind of guy to moan about it. I just keep my head down and work hard.”

Stevenson was one of the hardest workers in a demonstration of commitment by the Hibs players, which was matched by Aberdeen.

It was no classic, as there was insufficient quality on show, but for pure effort there was no surpassing this match.

Jason Brown’s excellent first-half saves from David Wotherspoon and Isaiah Osbourne were the highlights, while young left-winger Mitchell Megginson made a strong bid for an extended run in the injury-ravaged Dons side on his first start for the club.

Stevenson might have been forgiven for having his thoughts elsewhere as his girlfriend Julia was expecting their first child.

“As soon as the game started my mind was off it,” he said. “I am sure if anything happened then she would have got a message across.

“There wasn’t a contingency but the manager knew when I told him at the start of the week. He said if anything happened on Friday night or on the Saturday then I was to go to the birth. It was nice of him to do that.”

New beginnings seem to be the order of the day at Easter Road, and if Jorge Claros and the other new signings by manager Pat Fenlon can add a tad more quality to their undoubted work ethic then Aberdeen manager Craig Brown’s prediction that Hibs could “go on a run” might not seem fanciful at all.

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