Hearts defender Odel Offiah has already heeded part one of the Jambos’ derby rulebook by binning all his green clobber.
Now the Brighton loanee hopes he can pass the all important part two - by dumping Hibs on the park. The 20-year-old is desperate for his first proper taste of a local rivalry when the Hibees visit Tynecastle on Saturday. The closest he’s ever come is sitting on the bench for Brighton in the so-called M23 derby against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Offiah has revealed how his team mates have ensured he’s in the right frame of mind to grab Edinburgh bragging rights and leave the Hibees feeling off colour. He said: “It’s a big rivalry and when I came up here that’s the first thing you are told: ‘don’t wear green’. I listened, I haven’t worn green. All my green stuff got chucked out! I’d love to be involved on Saturday. I haven’t been involved in a game like this before, really.
“I’ve been on the bench a few times for Brighton against Crystal Palace. A derby is a derby and everyone is going to be fired up. That’s what football is for really.
“This is the first environment I’ve been in where you have to win, you have to get the three points. That’s important in itself - learning to fight for the three points in every game.”
Offiah already had a decent grounding on what lay in store at Tynecastle thanks to Brighton technical director and former Hearts star David Weir. But after four appearances including two Europa League qualifiers, his stint in Gorgie suffered a worrying setback last month when he was rushed to hospital after falling ill in training.
Offiah returned to Brighton for treatment. But after getting the all-clear is back in Edinburgh and made his second Premiership start in Saturday’s win
Football
love
hospital
STARS
Crystal Palace
UPS
Message
David Weir