Joe Newell reveals Hibs career was almost over within months as he thanks Jack Ross for Easter Road resurgence

Joe Newell insists it was an easy decision to extend his Hibs stay to six years - despite initially thinking he’d never see six MONTHS in Leith.

The Easter Road fans’ favourite penned a new contract through to the summer of 2025 on Thursday.

But the midfielder revealed there was a time not long after he moved to Edinburgh under Paul Heckingbottom in 2019 that he thought he’d be on a swift return journey south.

It was a rough introduction to Scotland for Newell but three years on he admits nothing could drag him away - particularly after a heart-to-heart with the Scottish arm of his family .. pet dog Jude.

He said: “I’ll be six years here hopefully at the end of this deal, which wasn’t what I expected when I came here.

“When I first joined they offered me a three year deal and I only took a two because I wasn’t sure how it would work out.

“It was a fresh challenge. I thought I might not like it - and to be honest I didn’t like the first six months!

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“I just wasn’t playing very well to be honest. My first few months here were tough and I just didn’t settle.

“But Jack Ross came in and changed my position and since then it has been all rosey.

“Since then I have loved every minute. I could see myself