ELIE Youan believes the emphatic cinch Premiership victory over Aberdeen at Easter Road on Saturday showed that Hibernian are far more than a two man team.
The Frenchman, who was deployed up front by manager Lee Johnson as Kevin Nisbet dropped to the bench, netted in the first-half of the record 6-0 rout of the Pittodrie club.
It was the first time that Johnson’s side had played since centre half Ryan Porteous departed for Watford – and Nisbet didn’t start because he had been involved in transfer talks the previous week.
Youan is hoping that Nisbet, who turned down the chance to move to Millwall on Friday despite a £2.35m bid being accepted, is still a Hibs player after the January transfer window closes tonight.
But if the Scotland internationalist, who has netted eight goals in as many matches, does follow Porteous out of Hibs his club mate is confident the Leith outfit can cope without him.
“For Nizzy, he's happy, as you saw on Saturday,” he said as he looked ahead to the league match against Ross County in Dingwall tonight.
“You are happy when you score and your team wins. You just have to be happy and the other things, the transfer window doesn't matter.
“I was just thinking about the game. I was just happy to see him again. If Nizzy is still here on Wednesday I'm happy, if he leaves I'm happy for him also. I'm just focused on the team and the next game.
“As you saw on Saturday the team is not one or two players, it is everybody. We were just focused on the game, not on the transfer of Nizzy or Porto. We were happy for them, but were focused on the game and that's why we won.
”I think everything was perfect because everybody had the same thinking - to win, to make the effort for their team mates, to run for their partner. We were solid, a unit, that's why we win 6-0.
“It depends on the team spirit. From the first minute of the game we played good and, for me, played as a team. When everyone thinks the same thing you can get the win easily.”
Nisbet should take his place in the starting line-up in the Global Energy Stadium if there are no last-minute bids to secure his services – but Youan will be happy to play through the middle if required.
“I just want to play football,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if I'm on the wing or I’m striker. If I can score and help the team that's the most important.”
Meanwhile, CJ Egan-Riley, the versatile Burnley defender who yesterday joined Hibs on loan until the end of the season, has expressed hope he can force his way into Johnson’s starting line-up.
“At this stage and this age, I feel ready that I can come into the men’s game and play week in, week out,” said the 20-year-old former England youth internationalist. “I want to show everyone what I can do. Defensively I’m aware and I read spaces well, but it’s all well and good me saying it, I know I need to show the fans that.”
