Deek's agony over wait for second Hibs debut

RETURNING Hibs striker Derek Riordan today admitted the next ten days will be among the longest in his life as he waits to make his debut second time around.

The 25-year-old made the switch from Parkhead to Easter Road on Monday night after a nightmare two years with Celtic and, after playing very little football over the last couple of seasons, he's champing at the bit to pull on the green and white of Hibs again.

However he will have to wait for his first competitive game for the club because this weekend's international break means Mixu Paatelainen's side don't take on Dundee United in the SPL until a week on Saturday.

That match, which will be played at Easter Road, promises to have a bumper crowd with Hibs supporters desperate to see their returning hero, who scored 61 goals in three years with the Easter Road side previously, in their club's colours once again.

He revealed that he has taken the squad number 01 on the back of his shirt because the No.10 shirt was already assigned to striker Colin Nish, and he had so many good times at the Edinburgh side wearing those digits on his back.

He's hoping that his new number will bring him just as much luck and, insisting that he will be fully fit by next Saturday, is raring to try it out.

He said: "I have just got to hope that the gaffer gives me the chance to play. I am raring to go, I was training with the boys yesterday and it was a brilliant feeling.

"I will definitely be fit for a week on Saturday, I've been training and playing pre-season games. That has kept me fit.

"I have got to wait until next Saturday and I'm really looking forward to the game and I'm sure the next week or so will take a long time to go in.

"I was delighted to know that Hibs had come in for me.

"I supported them as a boy and had a great time here the last time I played here so hopefully I can start again where I left off a couple of years ago.

"I've got 01 as my squad number because it is ten back to front.

"Obviously I couldn't get ten back from big Nishy so they gave me that instead.

"Once you're registered that's it. It wasn't me that came up with the idea but as soon as it was suggested to me I decided to go for it. I had some really good times here with the number ten so I thought that I might as well have it back to front this time!"

Before his Hibs deal was tied up on deadline day, Riordan was linked with a controversial move across the city to Hearts, but he revealed that not only did he not have any contact with the Tynecastle club, he would never have contemplated signing for the Easter Road outfit's bitter rivals.

Riordan added: "I didn't have to make that choice, it was between Celtic and Hearts and I am just delighted that I am here.

"No, I wouldn't have gone to Hearts. Hibs is the team that I support and they gave me my chance here, so obviously I am going to come here."

Riordan was virtually frozen out at Parkhead by manager Gordon Strachan, being forced to train and play his games with the reserves side and he admitted that the past two years have proved to be frustrating ones for him professionally.

"It would be frustrating for any player who doesn't get a game regularly but I have just got to get on with it and I am over the moon to be back here.

"I just kept playing away in the reserves and took it from there.

"Football is more important than the money.

"It is annoying when you are not playing football. You train all week and prepare but you know that you are not going to be playing at the weekend. That is the hardest thing.

"I just can't wait to play games."

He is looking forward to a new lease of life at Easter Road, working with former team-mate Mixu Paatelainen and to creating a fruitful partnership with Steven Fletcher. He said: "I've got Parky here and the gaffer obviously and it's great to be working with those guys.

"I played with Fletch when I was here before, he has done brilliantly for the club lately. Obviously he hasn't found the back of the net yet this season but there's no doubt that will come. You go through those spells as strikers.

"It's a great boost for the team that he is still here and I am looking forward to playing alongside him again.

"Obviously the fans will expect me to score straight away but obviously I was a fan when I was younger and you are like that yourself.

"And I expect myself to score goals if I get the chance."