Montgomery relishing Warnock reunion as Hibs travel to Dons

The 75-year-old was brought in as a short-term replacement for Barry Robson after the Dons dispensed with their former player's services as manager last month and has led Aberdeen to one win in the Scottish Cup against Bonnyrigg Rose, one defeat by Rangers at Ibrox, and Wednesday night's comeback draw against Motherwell in which the hosts had trailed 3-0 after 26 minutes following a Theo Bair double and an Adam Devine goal. 

But despite maintaining contact with his former manager over the years, Montgomery believes this weekend's match will be the first time the pair have been in each other's company for more than a decade. 

“It will be a little strange - Neil gave me my debut as a 17-year-old at Sheffield United. You can do the maths but it’s been a long time, and I’m sure it will be an experience being on the sidelines with him, but in the opposing dugout. It will probably be the first time I have seen him face-to-face in over ten years," Montgomery said as he previewed the upcoming cinch Premiership clash. 

“People go on about his man-management and he’s the sort of manager who, if he likes you, you get on with and if he doesn’t, you don’t last long at the club. That’s a pattern throughout his career. But he was always honest, and I have certainly taken parts of working with him into my career. He has changed. He’s not as colourful with referees as he used to be, and maybe he doesn’t shout as much anymore. But he’s done really well and had a fantastic career as a manager."

Montgomery will be looking to get one over on his former boss, but with both managers desperately seeking three points and both teams quite incredibly on identical points, goals for, goals against, and wins, draws, and defeats, it could be a ding-dong battle at Pittodrie on Saturday - and if there is to be a winner, the man in the away dugout will have to outwit his mentor, and not be taken in by any of his old tricks.

"The bowling story is the one that stands out," Montgomery continued, with a wry smile.

“I remember that first hand. It was a day when there was heavy snow or the pitches were waterlogged, so we cancelled training at Sheffield United and decided to go bowling instead. No one had any idea the gaffer had been a professional bowler in a past life! Everyone chucked £20 in and he was more than happy to clean up at the end. It was funny being there. That’s the sort of stuff Neil did. There are so many stories like that.

“It just shows you underestimate him at anything at your peril. But he has mellowed, compared to how he used to be. I don’t know what you’ve seen on YouTube but you’ve not seen some of his dressing-room stuff from the early days. 'You've got to die for three points' - I was in the dressing room that day for that. Once you step on that pitch it’s a battle, not a war, but two teams competing to win a game. Everyone has different ways of motivating but he just meant you have to give everything to win a game and it’s a message I try to give the players every game.

"I’m not sure what will happen on Saturday but I’m passionate, he’s passionate, and it’s two teams wanting to win a game of football. No matter what we will definitely be shaking hands before and after the game.”

Hibs go into this match with a good deal of squad depth. Rocky Bushiri has now returned to the club following his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with DR Congo but may not be risked at the weekend having not played a single minute for the Leopards as they finished fourth in the competition, losing to fellow beaten semi-finalists South Africa in the third-place play-off after being knocked out by eventual winners Côte d'Ivoire.

Josh Campbell and Jake Doyle-Hayes remain sidelined but Chris Cadden and Adam Le Fondre, who both came off the bench against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup last week, are primed for further involvement. 

"Alfie is the sort of player who’s always in the box, always sniffing around; a very instinctive striker. We went through a long period without a lot of options in the attacking third so it’s great to have him back and his experience.

"We really did get hit by the international window with two boys in the Asian Cup and two in the AFCON. We’ve had a long injury list as well. I look at the squad now and it’s probably the first time I’ve had to leave someone off the bench. That's a headache you want as a manager: picking your team you want your best players available and a strong bench.

“We’re at the tail end of the season now and it’s nice to have players back from injury. Chris Cadden is just coming back now. A few need a couple of weeks to get up to fitness. There’s a couple still on the injury table, Jake Doyle-Hayes and Josh Campbell. Paul Hanlon went through a period in which he was up and down with illness but he’s back in training now.

"Rocky came back on Wednesday but he’s not played one minute for the last eight weeks so the challenge is to get him back up to speed as quickly as possible and integrate him with the new players that have come in. But we are in a real strong place moving forward."