Hibs hero Tam McManus believes transfer speculation could be a factor in Kevin Nisbet's stuttering form this season.
The striker from Cambuslang has come under criticism amid a difficult second campaign at Easter Road.
While still in Scotland contention, Nisbet has netted netted nine goals this term after 19 for club and country last term, although showed sign of promise against Arbroath with a fine goal in a 3-1 Scottish Cup win on Sunday.
A deadline day move in January 2021 to Birmingham City fell through for the forward while he has been repeatedly linked with Celtic during his time at Hibs.
Comparing his links to Manchester City and former teammate Ian Murray's move to Rangers, McManus says speculation can get to players.
He told the Daily Record: "There it was, a bold headline on the back page of the Daily Record - 'Man City in for McManus.'
"I remember how I felt walking into training at Easter Road, high as a kite and with a swagger of a player going through a purple patch.
"Kevin Nisbet would have had that same feeling last summer, speculation over a move to Celtic and having a few million pound bid knocked back from Birmingham.
"My switch to City didn't materialise either, a scouting entourage came to watch me play against Dunfermline and I had an absolute stinker.
"We lost 3-1, Craig Brewster tore us apart and not a word more about yours truly and a switch to Manchester. A few years later I was linked with a move to Rangers alongside my team-mate at the time Ian Murray.
"He would eventually sign on at Ibrox but on both occasions the speculation negatively impacted on me. Did I perform poorly due to the pressure of being so close to a big move? Maybe.
"I don't know if that's the case with Nisbet, only he can answer that, but since the Birmingham move fell flat, he's not quite been the same player."
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