Hibs boss says Nish still part of plans

Hibs boss Colin Calderwood today insisted Colin Nish remains very much in his plans despite having given the striker permission to pursue a lucrative move to China.

As his team-mates were doing battle with Ayr United in the Scottish Cup last weekend, Nish was in Cyrpus training with Super League outfit Tianjin Teda.

But the 29-year-old, like a host of his Easter Road team-mates out of contract at the end of this season, returned to Edinburgh having apparently deciding against the switch.

He's resumed training with Calderwood's squad and, according to the manager, will continue to be considered for selection just as any other player.

Calderwood revealed Hibs had given Nish the green light to team up with Tianjin Teda as the contract on offer was "a big one" and it would have been unfair, given the current contract status relating to the player to deny him that chance.

He said: "It was too good an offer for him not to have a look but it doesn't look as if it has progressed so he remains in the plans here."

However, Hibs' willingness to allow Nish not only to talk to the Chinese side but to travel to train with them will be seen as a sign that the former Kilmarnock striker, signed by Mixu Paatelainen, doesn't have a long-term future at Easter Road.

Calderwood, though, was reluctant to debate either Nish or any of the other 14 players whose deals are currently running down although midfield star Kevin McBride has revealed he's been told he's free to leave if he can find another club.

The Hibs boss, who has already seen Sol Bamba depart for Leicester City during this transfer window and midfield youngster Lee Currie leave, insisted: "I am not going to discuss individual players."

Meanwhile, Calderwood has stressed that he does not believe that his side suffer when they go into a match as favourites.

Having struggled against Second Division Ayr United last weekend, Calderwood was asked if he thought that being expected to win put more pressure on his players, to an adverse effect. He added: "No I don't think so. We've got to score a goal and perform better. As a group we weren't really at our right level (against Ayr]. One or two had poor games, one or two very poor, and one or two good. It wasn't as cohesive as we would have liked and we never scored with the limited opportunities that we had, although we probably should have."