Top line summary

  • Taken aback by level of Hibs support
  • Describes himself as a 'perfectionist' who can do multiple midfield roles
  • Cites Scott Parker as his biggest influence
  • Turned down other Scottish clubs to join Hibs

Nathan Moriah-Welsh spoke to the media ahead of Hibs' Scottish Cup visit to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Here's everything the midfielder had to say...

How's it been here for you so far?

"It's been good. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't know what to expect coming into it but it's been top class so far.

What's surprised you about it?

"Not much - probably the fans and how passionate they are. Being at Newport last year, I didn't have as many fans as Hibs do. That's probably the biggest shock but against Celtic that backed us 100 per cent. That was a big positive.

Have the expectation levels taken you aback?

"Not really. I'm a perfectionist so there's always expectation on my shoulders. The fans expect what they expect and we 100 per cent have to give it to them every week. If we can keep putting in performances like we did against Celtic, then going forward, we can't do them wrong and can't do ourselves any harm.

How did you find the game against Celtic?

"Celtic, Rangers - all those teams are top, top teams. Coming into it, we knew it was going to be a battle, but those are the games you want to be involved in, against top teams. That's where you want to be in five-to-ten years time. Playing against teams that have been in the Champions League and Europa League, that's where you want to be.

What was the biggest factor in your decision to come here?

"I think the main factor was probably the club size more than anything. The chance to play against teams like Celtic and Rangers as well, but also to come to city like this, and in front of those fans, was a no-brainer.

What does being a perfectionist entail for you?

"Every week I want 100 per cent pass completion, goals, assists, just to be the best person I can be every day, every game. I think I gave the ball away about three or four times against Celtic and I was fuming. If I can be 100 per cent every game, then it gives the team an extra bit every week.

You must put a lot of pressure on yourself?

"Of course but I've done that for years now. I've worked on it for years. I'm still only 21 but in five years time I can still be that perfectionist I am, I could be anywhere.

What sort of midfielder are you?

"Depends on the day really! I love to say I can do both, I probably showed that against Celtic. The one thing I want to get is more goals and assists. I'm box-to-box and I can play as a number ten or sit, play as a No.8. I'm all-rounded.

What midfielders did you look up to?

"I've never looked up to a midfielder, I'll be honest. I've never really had idols. If I can take something from every person that I've watched and put it into myself then it makes me the most all-rounded midfielder possible.

Who's been the biggest influence on your career?

"Scott Parker when I was at Bournemouth. Obviously he was a midfielder as well. His desire to be a perfectionist and the detail that he and his coaching staff went into rubbed off on me a lot. It just showed what is needed to be a top, top player like he was.

He made most of his talent, didn't he?

"In training with him, he would sometimes join in and to be fair, he nutmegged me a couple of times. Some managers might not get involved but he played like he wanted our players to play. He was probably the most influential.

Was Parker fiery as well?

“Yeah, he was fiery. I think I got on the wrong side of him once. I wasn’t on his bad side too many times. But one time – and I’m not going to go into that! I can’t tell you …

“He wouldn’t kick me in training, no. I was only a young lad at the time, so there wasn’t much of that. He was good to be around.

The midfield two here requires all-rounders - you must feel well-suited to that?

“I like to get around the pitch a lot, like to make tackles, so that suits my game, whether it’s in a two or a three, whatever we play. If I can give another five per cent, that can maybe give someone else an extra five or ten per cent elsewhere. That goes across the team and we can go from 100 per cent to 200 per cent.

What did you think when Scotland was mentioned as an option?

“I had watched the Sky Sports games and had a couple of chats with Nnamdi Ofoborh, who didn’t play at Rangers because of his heart condition. He told me what it was like to come up, told me all about Celtic and Rangers. But I was kind of oblivious coming into it. Which is what I like. I don’t like to have a lot of expectations. I need to see it for my own eyes. Coming up here, there weren’t any doubts at all. I just wanted to play. If I can get as many games in as possible, I’m doing myself the world of good.

As a young player, that takes bravery to come up with little idea...

“Yeah, but I think those are probably the best decisions for me. Having to see every week what it’s like, it’s about growing as a person as much as a footballer, becoming a man.

Who was the first person you spoke to about the move?

“My coach at Bournemouth, Alan Connell, said I should go, that it was a top, top club. I spoke to the gaffer and his aspirations aligned with mine. I expect great things from myself. And I expect the club and the lads can do great things. You can see it for yourself, Easter Road is a top, top stadium. Edinburgh … I couldn’t say no to it, personally. It was the No. 1 option on my list when a list of clubs came out from my people. It was an opportunity not to be turned down. I can’t tell you what the other options were. A couple of clubs up here, a couple of clubs in England were sniffing. But out of all of them, this was the one that just shone for me with a massive light.

How was your spell at Newport County?

“I learned that every game is different. League Two and League One football, it’s quite similar. Up here, some teams play long balls, some can play. For me, I learned the opposite side of the game, the out of possession stuff. I’m good on the ball but having that bite and determination to put tackles in, get your foot in and win second balls. I learned that. I went to the Eastleigh game in the FA Cup because Bournemouth is quite close by, so I was really happy for the boys to get through. They’re a top, top group of lads, I really enjoyed my time there. What they’ve done shows that anything can happen in Cup games. We’ll go to Inverness with full confidence off the back of Celtic. Anything can happen in the cup but we can’t afford to think like that – we have to have a positive mindset. We’ll go in with the same mentality we took into the Celtic game. We have to do that in every game, to be fair. If we apply ourselves the same way in every game, and get a result on Saturday, which I 100 per cent believe we will, we can do well.”