Hibs kid Hanlon to join St johnstone on loan

HIBS kid Paul Hanlon is to quit Easter Road to join First Division St Johnstone, boss Mixu Paatelainen revealed today.

The 18-year-old defender has found it difficult to find regular first-team football this season, his last outing coming against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in mid-August with Ian Murray and Lewis Stevenson having held down the left-back berth since.

As a result, Hanlon has been restricted to reserve team football but, with Hibs' second string not due to play again until January 27, Paatelainen has agreed to allow the Scotland Under-19 captain to move to McDiarmid Park on a month-long loan.

Now the youngster is in line to make his debut for Derek McInnes' table-topping side when they face Clyde in Perth tomorrow.

Today Paatelainen, who handed Hanlon his debut in his first match in charge of Hibs, a Scottish Cup clash with Inverness 11 months ago, insisted the temporary move to Saints will do the youngster the world of good.

He said: "We don't have any reserve games for a month and, although we do have a couple of bounce matches arranged, they are not the same thing.

"I felt it would be beneficial for Paul to go and play first-team football, competitive games at what is a good standard."

Since making his debut, Hanlon has started 12 matches for Hibs, scoring one goal, but Paatelainen, while predicting a great career for the youngster, insisted he wouldn't be rushing his progress.

He said: "Paul is a fantastic prospect and one day, if he keeps his head right and works hard he will be a first-team regular, no problem. But this is what happens to youngsters, just because they make the breakthrough doesn't mean they will play all the time.

"They come in and out of the side, it's all part of their development. Paul is a level-headed guy, he'll go to St Johnstone, gain a bit more experience of playing first-team football, working in a different set-up and it will be beneficial to him." Hanlon, who signed a five-year deal at Easter Road, said: "I'm delighted to be here. It was a great boost getting a long-term deal from Hibs, but I've had a taste of first-team football this season and now I want more. Hopefully I can get games here and if everything goes well and the clubs agree, maybe the loan could be extended."

Meanwhile, Paatelainen today urged his players to end the year on a high by making it a third successive home win with a victory over Kilmarnock at Easter Road tomorrow.

Hibs have had to wait five months to take revenge on Killie for inflicting defeat on them on the opening day of the season at Rugby Park but Paatelainen knows Jim Jefferies' players will be smarting after losing at home to St Mirren last weekend. He said: "I think we are a different team to back in August, I believe we are playing much better but it is up to us to prove it out there on the pitch."

Hibs will be at full-strength with Derek Riordan and Dean Shiels having returned to training after injury.