Top line summary

  • Fond memories of working with Montgomery at Central Coast Mariners
  • Hopes move to Hibs can help realise international ambitions
  • Took time to settle at Sunderland, now ready to kick on.

Nectar Triantis spoke to the media after joining Hibs on loan from Sunderland on transfer deadline day. Here's everything the defender had to say...

You know Nick Montgomery well from Central Coast Mariners...

"It was my first professional season really, he brought me along from a youth team at another club and gave me that chance to break through and it ended up being a very good season.  We went all the way and won the final, I won my first piece of silverware as a professional  - that is always a fond memory and hopefully I can create more here. It is a similar situation here, we have some young boys and a very energetic team from what I’ve seen so hopefully we can replicate that and win silverware this year. Fair play to Rory Whittaker, from what I’ve seen he is a top player and a top kid and hopefully he can continue his career and pathway."

Is it surreal what you’ve done - won silverware - and you're still only 20?

"I just like to take things in my stride and not think too much in the past or future because you can get caught up in that. I want to keep on progressing."

Montgomery isn't afraid to give youth a chance?

"I think it’s good to have a mix, you need to have those young players but you also need to have those experienced players to set standards, guidelines and pathways for the future."

Why do so many Australians love Scotland?

"I don’t think it’s the weather to be fair, it’s not too different from Sunderland with the weather.  I think it’s a good move in a good league so I don’t see why people shouldn’t be looking to come to this league."

Players become Socceroos in Scotland... you next?

"That’s right, not only at Hibs but players elsewhere that have come to this league and become Socceroos and hopefully I can be the next. I’ve played under-23s. We’ve had chats but ultimately getting into the squad is about form, if I can get a good run of form then I have every chance of getting into the squad. Sammy Silvera is at Middlesbrough, we both made the move in the summer from the Mariners and he has gone on to make the Asian Cup with the squad."

How has Sunderland been?

"It is a big move, you can’t hide that fact. I think with every player you need a bit of a settling-in period and I took that time, now I feel like I’m in a really good position and shape to kick on."

Is there an Aussie support network in Scotland?

"Not so much the league, you want to see your fellow Aussies doing well so you keep in touch with them."

Do you surf?

"No. I grew up in a Greek household with a Greek background. I had a big family growing up who were all into football so that’s how I got into it. It was Sydney I grew up. There is a big Greek community in Melbourne but my family settled down in Sydney. I played for the local club, Sydney Olympic, and then through the A-League academies growing up. Asteras Tripolis are my family’s team back in Greece. With the family, they are all into football and you follow your brothers. I didn’t really play any other sports, it was always football for me. I had two older brothers who played professionally so I always looked up to them and they were my role models growing up."