Kyle Magennis speaks on a quiet deadline day as Hibs midfielder prepares to face former club St Mirren

The player took in the Easter Road side’s 3-2 win against Hamilton Accies on the Friday before the deadline, with the move going through a couple of days later and well in advance of the window slamming shut.

This time however, the 22-year-old is happy to be able to focus on tonight’s match against former club St Mirren, without any prospect of movement before midnight.

Magennis said: "It’s good to be settled this time around and able to focus on working hard in training every day.

"If you are involved it’s a case of trying not to think about it too much and just keeping your head down.

"If it happens, it happens, but you just need to keep working hard wherever you are.

"I think it was my day off [on the day of the move in October] actually; the boys must have had a game so I was off in the morning and I got a call from my agent telling me I had to go through for a medical with Hibs.

"The talks had dragged out a bit in the weeks before but I just let my agent and the two clubs deal with it and kept working away at St Mirren until it was eventually done.”

The midfielder has endured a frustrating time since putting pen to paper on a five-year deal, with injuries restricting him to just seven league appearances and the battle for places in the middle of the park adding an extra layer to his efforts to force his way into Jack Ross’ first-team plans.

After having an immediate impact as a second-half substitute at Tannadice – his pass allowing Jackson Irvine to set up Martin Boyle for the second goal – Magennis is hopeful of building on that when Hibs take to the field this evening.

"Livingston and Aberdeen are playing well, so it’s getting a bit tight at the top and it would be brilliant if we could get back-to-back victories and take the three points,” he agreed.

"Livi are on an amazing run and every point they get, we need to try and beat that so they don’t catch us.”

For Magennis, it is his first time back in Paisley since leaving in October after 12 years with the Buddies but he insists there will be no room for sentiment come kick-off.

He admitted: "I’ve not really thought that much about going back, although that could all change tonight. It might feel a bit strange, but I’m a Hibs player now and I just need to work as hard as I can and if I get a chance tonight, make sure I do well.”

With one eye on the seemingly unstoppable Livingston below, might the other be glancing upwards at Celtic, just six points ahead of the Capital club in second?

"Celtic have got a few games in hand but we go into every game as confident as we can be,” Magennis added.

"Hopefully we can take the three points tonight and if they drop points [at Kilmarnock] then it’s a bonus but we just focus on ourselves and approach every game hoping to win it.”

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