Lee Johnson admits Kevin Nisbet won't be at Hibs much longer if he continues to produce the levels he showed against Hearts.
The Easter Road hitman was the derby day hero as the men from Leith grabbed the bragging rights last weekend and kept their top six destiny in their own hands. Victory this weekend over St Johnstone will guarantee a final five games in the top half and fighting it out to secure European football next season.
The result handed a fifth league defeat on the trot to the Jambos as interim boss Steven Naismith looks to get back to winning ways this weekend like his rival boss did last time out. Nisbet is contracted at Hibs until next summer, but Johnson admits he has no idea if his star striker will remain at the club beyond the next window with 'a lot of interest' coming in.
READ MORE: Hibs' fight for top six examined as all scenarios explored ahead of big Premiership weekend
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Galatasaray, Preston, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Sheffield United are all believed to have watched the hitman net in the capital derby as did Scotland boss Steve Clarke. A continued run of form will likely mean he 'won't be here' beyond the summer says Johnson as a big bid will land at the door of the club that they simply couldn't turn down.
Johnson said: “You never know. He is attracting a lot of interest. The Scotland manager was there at the weekend as well and there’s never a bad time to have that kind of game.
"My challenge for him is: ‘Go and do that again on Saturday now, when maybe the atmosphere isn’t quite as intense’. If he does do that then he probably won’t be here because someone will come in with a big bid that we can’t turn down. I hope the speculation builds because it means he is performing as well as he did on Saturday.
“I thought he was outstanding, his work rate, obviously the goal. You see now he is rolling his hips into people, he is pinning them, he is a big strong lad anyway.
“It was a great example when the ball came in during the Hearts game, he shaped up - I remember playing against Kevin Phillips who I thought was world class - low centre of gravity - dropped the shoulder, everybody was thinking he was going that way but big touch then spin then stuck someone down the line.#
“I think Toby Sibbick was behind him and he absolutely went for a pasty on the back of that move.
“You can only do that if you have a great touch, great centre off gravity and spacial awareness and for me that shows a real high level of football IQ.”
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