New Hibernian signing Dwight Gayle has revealed he sought advice from an old team-mate before making the move to Scotland.

Gayle shared a dressing room with Easter Road captain Joe Newell at Peterborough United a little over ten years ago, and the pair have remained close ever since, with the 34-year-old striker keeping an eye on his former colleague's career in the Scottish Premiership. 

"I spoke to Joe a lot about moving up," Gayle told Hibs TV. "We spoke most days about it and I think he was helping to push it with the gaffer [David Gray] as well! He had a lot of good things to say about Hibs and played a big part in the move happening."

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Sporting director Malky Mackay also made a pitch to Gayle - not that the striker needed much convincing. 

"Malky explained Hibs were looking for a player of my profile to help improve the team and help out. Playing in Scotland is a new experience for me but it was something that interested me as well. It ticked every box for me so he didn't have to say too much," Gayle recalled. 

"It's such a good level here and Hibs are a big club. That interested me and as soon as I heard about the interest, my ears pricked up. I know quite a bit about Scottish football and I've followed Joe's career since he moved up so I know how well-supported it is, I know about the rivalries - and I've been looking through the fixtures and getting excited about a lot of the big games coming up. My wife is from Scotland as well and all her family aren't too far either so I'm sure they'll be here supporting a lot more than they normally would, which will be fun."

Usually, when free agents arrive at clubs outwith transfer windows they are some way short of match fitness and take time to get up to speed, but Gayle took part in a PFA-organised pre-season which included matches and training alongside other out-of-contract players such as former Rangers and Derby striker Martyn Waghorn, former Motherwell midfielder Alex Gorrin, ex-Aberdeen defender Michael Hector and former St Mirren and Motherwell centre-back Charles Dunne. 

"I thought it was an amazing set-up - I got told about it towards the end of last season and thought it was such a good idea; I just couldn't believe there wasn't something like that in place already for the boys out of contract who might find it difficult to train at home or on their own," Gayle explained. 

"What they were able to do and the environment they created was perfect for a lot of people's mental well-being as well as their physical well-being. There are a lot of things planned for next year and I think it will be even wider-reaching because of the numbers they were able to attract. 

"They have a lot of coaches who use it to sharpen up their skills as well so they get to train and the players get really good sessions and it's just a really nice environment to be in. There are also physios and sports scientists for gym work, a spa for the boys as well, and they can stay there if they need to so it's the perfect set-up for pre-season."

Gayle is hopeful of having a speedy impact at Hibs, who currently prop up the Scottish Premiership table in terms of shots on target. 

"Hibs fans can expect someone who will work hard and hopefully score some goals and help the team. What they might not see is the way I am in the dressing room and how I'll try to get everyone improving and working hard in an environment that helps us as a team. The fans are so supportive of the team; they turn up in their numbers and hopefully, we can pay them back by getting some results."