Manchester United loanee Will Fish has “all the attributes” to “really kick on”, says Hibernian captain Paul Hanlon.
Following the departure of centre-back Ryan Porteous to Watford, Hibs boss Lee Johnson has entrusted Fish to replace the one-time Scotland international.
Having only made three substitute appearances for the Easter Road side during the first half of the campaign, the 19-year-old has started five of Hibernian’s last six Scottish Premiership matches.
And after being hauled off at half-time on his first start for Hibs in a 3-0 defeat to Hearts, while playing at right-back, the teenager has shown great attitude to bounce back.
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Hibernian captain Paul Hanlon explains what has impressed him the most about Will Fish
Fish has been no stranger to receiving praise in recent weeks as Johnson paid the youngster the ultimate compliment by saying: “If you wanted to build a centre-half – I’m telling you, Will Fish is what you’d build.”
But having been lavished with praise by his current boss, Fish, who has one first team appearance for Manchester United to his name, has now received a glowing endorsement from his captain.
Speaking to The Edinburgh Evening News, Hanlon said: “I’ve only played the last two games side by side but at Tynecastle he played right-back, which he had never really played before so it was probably a tough environment to judge him on.
“The last two games he has been different class, really good. He has all the attributes at this age to really kick on. If the last two games are anything to go by he has plenty of potential.
“That’s part of the job as you get older, passing things on, but to be fair to Will on the pitch he is really receptive. He doesn’t have tunnel vision all the time and he’s a great lad.
“I’m gutted during the week we didn’t get two clean sheets as that would have been two in a row. He obviously comes from a big club but his attitude to learn is different class, he is always asking questions – ‘where should I be’, ‘what should I have done then?’
“Physically for his age at 19, he’s a big boy, attacks the ball well, but can play with some pace too, so basically exactly what you want in a modern-day footballer. What more do you need? His attitude to learn is probably the best thing. You would never know he’d come from United and that’s probably the best thing about him.”
Fish’s recent performances have been crucial to Hibernian picking up two clean sheets from their last three games.
Hibs’ number 25 has made a staggering 31 clearances in his last three games and won ten aerial duels.