Elias Melkersen STILL has Hibs future as Nick Montgomery talks up misfit loan return after 'tough start'

Nick Montgomery insists Elias Melkersen has a future at Hibs after admitting he’s looking forward to welcoming the striker back to Easter Road in January.

Melkersen, 20, is in his native Norway on loan at Stromsgodset and has scored four goals in 10 league outings. He also spent the second half of last season on loan at Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam after struggling to make an impact at Hibs following his January 2022 move from Bodo/Glimt. But Hibs boss Montgomery likes what he’s seen in footage of the marksman as Melkersen prepares for Norway’s Under-21 Euro qualifying clash with the Republic of Ireland.

Montgomery said: “I’ve spoken to all the players who are out on loan. We’ve watched them, we do a weekly round-up, unfortunately we haven’t had time to go and watch them live, we’ve had a lot of games. But I’ve spoken to Elias and watched his games and he looks like a very good young player – and a player who I know had a tough start at Hibs.

“He was probably thrown in at the deep end when he wasn’t quite ready. The way we play with two strikers, he’ll definitely be an asset for us. But he’s having a good loan spell, he’s scoring goals, so it’ll be nice to see him when he comes back.”

Graham Arnold credited Hibs last night as he hailed Lewis Miller’s impact in Australia’s 7-0 thumping of Bangladesh. The right-back played his first full 90 minutes as he won his third cap and chipped in with an assist for ex-Easter Road star Jamie MacLaren’s hat-trick clinching strike.

The victory shot the Socceroos to the top of their World Cup qualifying group ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Palestine. Arnold, who said fellow Hibee Martin Boyle will be fit for Tuesday’s tie in Kuwait, reckons Miller’s partnership on the right with St