Jamie Gullan gears up to convince Hibs boss he is worth a start

Jamie Gullan will return to Easter Road claiming he’s now ready to push for a place in Jack Ross’ Hibs squad after completing a successful spell on loan with Raith Rovers.

The 20-year-old striker went into his final game with the League One leaders, at home to Peterhead today, as the Kirkcaldy club’s top scorer with Rovers boss John McGlynn keen to keep him at Stark’s Park to boost his side’s title credentials.

Gullan, however, insists staking his claim for a green and white shirt is his priority, believing he’s far better equipped to do so now than when he made three appearances as a substitute for the Easter Road club at the start of last season.

“I’ve loved every minute at Raith and I can’t thank them enough for the past six months,” said Gullan. “But Hibs is my priority, that’s where I want to be.

“I feel I am more ready to make the step up to first-team football than I was the last time around when I was involved. My two loan spells with Raith have helped me massively but I feel ready to come back and try to make an impression.

“I’ve spoken to Jack Ross a couple of times when I’ve been training with the first team at East Mains but really just him asking how my loan spell was going, but hopefully I can impress him.

“I think there is a chance there for me and the fact I can play a few other positions will hopefully also help me.”

Gullan took his goals tally to eight for the season with a double as Raith defeated East Fife last weekend in a tight title race which also involves Airdrie and Falkirk and, he insisted, he’s thrived on the pressure.

He said: “You know you have to perform every week to keep your place in the team. We’d lost to Dumbarton the previous week so the East Fife result was a massive one for us, a top-of-the table derby.

“It’s really tight at the top of the table and everything can change so quickly. If one of the clubs can put together a good run of results they could perhaps open up a bit of a gap.

“So the pressure has been on to produce every week. There’s so much riding on every game, the need to win and try not to lose any ground and, of course, keeping the Raith fans happy.

“I don’t let it get to me, I just try to do my best in every game. If I don’t score and we win I am happy, it’s all about results, not the goals. But adding goals to my game was something I wanted to do.”

Naturally, having played such a big part in putting Raith in pole position at this stage of the season, Gullan would dearly love to see McGlynn’s players complete the job.

He said: “John and his assistant Paul Smith have been brilliant with me, talking to me on and off the pitch which has helped massively.

“Playing week in week out against experienced professionals is an education you don’t get in development squad football and having someone like John Baird, who has played for so many clubs, back at Raith has been great.

“He’s got bags of experience and he’s been a real help both in training and in games, talking you through things. He’s been good for me and Kieron Bowie with lots of tips and pointers, it’s great to have someone like him take an interest in the younger players such as myself.”