Kanayo Megwa has joined Hibs on their midseason training camp in Dubai, as head coach Nick Montgomery takes a closer look at a player earning rave reviews for loan side Airdrieonians.

A club statement released on Wednesday confirmed the 19-year-old will be 'assessed' by the manager and his coaching staff on the week-long trip to the United Arab Emirates, and thus will miss the Championship side's weekend meeting with Dunfermline Athletic. Megwa has been a revelation for the Diamonds, making 14 appearances - 13 of them starts - and winning player of the month twice, despite having to wait until October 11 to make his debut.

Before heading for Dubai, the teenager turned in a man-of-the-match performance during last weekend's 1-0 win over league leaders Raith Rovers. A loan player's impact can always be gauged by just how jittery fans of the club become at the prospect of a January recall, and it's abundantly clear they do not want to lose Megwa down at the Excelsior Stadium. Although not an official recall, Megwa will now get a chance to impress Montgomery over the coming days amid growing belief he could become a long-term right-back option.

A move to Lanarkshire has certainly been a productive one, with Megwa frequently catching the eye. Under young manager Rhys McCabe Airdrie have adopted, and stuck faithfully to, a possession-based style not often associated with a division which can be harshly categorised as being all about physicality. And while the Championship will no doubt be beneficial in allowing Megwa to get to grips with the rigours of men's football, he is also taking in his first senior experience playing a style not dissimilar to that which Hibs are currently trying to implement.

READ MORE: Hibees on loan: the process, the reasons and preferred clubs

In an exclusive interview with the Hibs Observer over the weekend, loans manager Eddie May said Airdrie are a favoured club for these deals because of their progressive style, deemed ideal for Megwa, as well as team-mates Murray Aiken and Josh O'Connor. After making his debut, Megwa stated one of his goals for the season was improving in possession, and it seems likely he was set that target by Hibs before he departed. 

“Airdrie is a great club and they have given me a great experience so far," Megwa told Lanarkshire Live in October. "The guys have all been great with me as well. I am learning every single day, so it is good.

“The style of play is really good. It helps me as well because part of my game I always want to work on is playing with the ball. Hopefully I can make a good impression at Airdrie as well as Hibs. The better we play, the better we do, the more eyes will see our games. It is good to help the team in any way I can."

Megwa has firmly staked his claim in the Airdrie side since that first outing, and drew particular plaudits for his handling of Raith's Dylan Easton, among the Championship's best players this season, at the weekend. Afterwards, Airdrie player-manager McCabe described him as 'outstanding' in a backline which has now conceded just once in the last four games.

What do his stats tell us?

His defensive numbers, according to Wyscout, have been solid.

Megwa has averaged 6.67 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per 90 minutes, while winning nine defensive duels per game. At around 5ft 9, Megwa isn't the tallest, but has still managed to win just under half of his aerial duels.

If he wanted to improve on the ball, averaging 2.54 dribbles and 2.38 crosses per-90 is a decent return. But perhaps the most striking statistic is Megwa's willingness to pass forward. He has averaged around 14 forward passes per-90, with a 70 per cent success rate.

Airdrie like to build from the back, and their success so far this term - they currently sit fourth and are in the last four of the SPFL Trust Trophy - has been achieved with a number of young players being trusted to go and play. Megwa has been a major contributor, both in keeping clean sheets and implementing their in-possession style.

READ MORE: Will Chris Cadden make Hibs return as a winger or full-back?

It's little wonder, then, that Montgomery wants to see what he can do up close. Hibs are currently short at right-back, with Rory Whittaker currently the only available option. Lewis Miller is absent on international duty for an, as yet, undetermined length of time, and Chris Cadden is still working towards his return from a long-term injury lay-off.

Leeds United's Kris Moore is on a long list of targets, and has under-21 experience at right-back. A loan for the 20-year-old remains a possibility, and the consensus at Leeds appears to be that Moore is ready for first-team action. Montgomery has suggested that loans will be Hibs' primary method of conducting business this month, with a bigger shake-up coming in the summer.

But there are plenty of fans who are keen, nay desperate, to see Megwa given an opportunity in green and white. A chance to train with the first team, as well as presumably featuring in friendly matches, will be a useful litmus test for Montgomery and his coaching staff - and an exciting opportunity for the player to sample life in the Hibs first-team.