Rocky Bushiri has reacted to Lee Johnson's £10million price tag comment after turning his fortunes around at Easter Road.
The Hibs boss has openly admitted that he was more than happy to let the defender depart the club in the summer but after a solid pre-season and his willingness to take on instructions and learn, it has transformed his game with his gaffer 'very impressed' with the standards he is now showing.
Speaking previously about the former Norwich City stopper - who was brought to the club by Shaun Maloney - he said: “When I walked through the door he was one that I was more than happy to move him on, and now I wouldn’t let him go for £10million. I’ve been very impressed with him. A couple of weeks into pre-season we gave him simple rules to which he has to adhere, in terms of his defending. In the past, when I watched him, I felt he was too rash in his decision-making, but we have drilled him and he has been a good student, really willing to learn.”
READ MORE: Harry McKirdy holds Hibs talks after Swindon social media post as explanation demanded
Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Reacting to those positive messages from Johnson, Bushiri said: "It's good to hear things like that. I'm with him the whole week and the staff and it's their job to make us better.
"It has to come from us players as well. We have to show that we want to learn and we want to work hard. I'm always hoping to get better. I feel good.”
Hibs defeated St Mirren the capital last weekend to regain a hold of third spot in the Premiership behind Celtic and Rangers. Bushiri once again impressed in the heart of the backline but he wouldn't take all the praise from the personal performance, heaping praise on his team-mates for allowing him to display his real strengths.
Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, he added: "I thought I was pretty good but it's thanks to my team. They put me in situations where I can really show my strengths
“It's collective. My team really helped me a lot. They really believe in me and it feels I can perform at my best.
“I really like playing alongside Paul [Hanlon] and Ryan [Porteous]. Those who know me will know I like to defend first and foremost at centre-back, so I really enjoy it.”
He continued: "It's great to be back after injury. It was a bit sad because it happened in a training session. Thankfully it's behind us now, I'm back and I'm going to try and help the team as much as I can.
“It's just part of it, isn't it? We don't decide on when we get injured. The most important thing is to always come back stronger and not to lose focus.”
READ NEXT:
- Hibs youngsters plan French adventure joy after Ethan Laidlaw goal provides UEFA Youth League hope
- Lee Johnson handed Hibs transfer advice as manager told to remember Terry Butcher scenario
- Former Hibs star Efe Ambrose joins Greenock Morton as he makes Scottish Championship transfer
- Mykola Kukharevych and the Hibs form factor that could spark future Easter Road transfers
- Ryan Porteous in Hibs 'made quite clear' contract latest as he addresses 'targeted' remarks
