Christian Doidge so glad to see Kevin Nisbet break his Hibs duck - but another team-mate is singled out for praise by Welshman

Christian Doidge says he’s delighted that strike-partner Kevin Nisbet has “hit the ground running” at Hibs, recalling his own travails at breaking his league scoring duck last season.

Nisbet, a £250,000 signing from Dunfermline during the summer, scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-1 Premiership win over Livingston as the Hibees made it two wins out of two in the top flight.

Doidge came back into the team after suffering from a knee injury and was also on the scoresheet – and admitted he was pleased for Nisbet to break his duck so early.

The Welshman knows how a lengthy spell without a goal can weigh heavy on a striker, with the ex-Forest Green Rovers man having to wait until November last season to bag his first Premiership goals against St Johnstone with a hat-trick of his own.

Doidge said: “I think we performed well together and I’m really happy for Kevin to get that hat-trick.

“He’d been doing that kind of thing all week in training, looking really sharp.

“It’s a fantastic achievement at any level, getting a hat-trick, and I’m so pleased for him.

“With Martin [Boyle] getting a couple last week, we’ve got plenty of threat – and there are even more goals in the team, I think.

“Joe scores a lot of goals in training, Daryl is a real threat as well. I think we looked good against Livingston, even when we were up against it, with Boyle’s pace – so we probably could have scored a lot more.

“It can be hard as a striker when you go to a new club and the goals won’t come.

“That’s why I’m so delighted for Kevin to hit the ground running in such style. Hopefully there are many more goals to come from him.”

Doidge also singled out praise for another of Hibs’ new boys in Alex Gogic.

The Cypriot put in another strong showing in central midfield and Doidge believes the former Hamilton Accies midfield brings qualities to the table that Hibs lacked last season.

“Gogic brings something we’ve been missing. He’s a hard man, isn’t he?” he said.

“He looks hard, with that big bald head! A lovely guy off the pitch – but he’s what we need.

“He’s not looking to go forward and create chances. He’s there to help the defenders out and he’s been a massive help.”

Doidge will be looking to keep his place in the starting XI when Hibs travel to Tannadice to face Dundee United tomorrow evening and the 27-year-old knows that qualifying for Europe is a reasonable goal for Jack Ross’ team.

“I think Europe is the target every season. We’re very disappointed by how it ended last year,” added Doidge.

“Towards the end we picked up some really good form. The fact that we’ve started a lot better this year as a team means Europe is something we should definitely push for.”