There's not much football hasn't thrown at Junior Hoilett, yet the watching berth doesn't get any easier with age.

But as he's surveyed his new surroundings from the stands and sidelines, there's no doubt in the 34-year-old's mind that he has so much to offer Hibs. After departing Aberdeen at the end of last season, his stock high following an influential six months with the Dons, Hoilett broke down in training with Canada just weeks before he was set to take on Lionel Messi and Argentina at the Copa America.

His immediate future looked uncertain, but then came the call from Easter Road. There was already a familiar face in the building in the shape of Craig Samson, who was goalkeeping coach during Hoilett's spell at Pittodrie, and when the forward spoke to David Gray, he felt 'enticed' by what this latest new adventure could entail.

The Hibs head coach's pitch was not just what he felt Hoilett could offer on the pitch, but also emphasised his importance off it. Signing a proven performer on a one-year deal was a low risk, potentially high reward investment into a side which had shed years of experience at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Hoilett hopes to be fit and firing by the time the latest international break concludes, and by watching from afar, he's convinced he can become a valuable asset.

“When I spoke to the gaffer and he told me his plans, it was enticing. I was interested straight," he said. "I knew Sammy from Aberdeen, he told me everything about the club and the culture here. It’s been good to be part of it so far even though there’s been ups and downs since I got injured over the off-season with the national. I was happy to get the deal done and be part of the squad.

“They told me what I could bring to the team on and off the pitch. They told me it was a really good group here, and they wanted me to help move the club forward.

“There’s some exciting young players here. They wanted me to be a big part of not only the team, but the dressing room. It’s a challenge I wanted to be part of, to help the team achieve what they want to achieve this season."

Of course, it's been a less-than-ideal start to the new Premiership campaign for Hibs, the tentative optimism sparked by a strong Premier Sports group stage showing fizzling out in the face of five-game winless run since. Creativity has been an issue, with Gray's side ranked lowest in the league so far for shots on target. Hoilett's game has evolved over the years, of course, and the evidence from his Aberdeen showings is he possesses that nous and know-how that can make a difference in the final third.

Read more:

“There’s a lot of potential in this team, and a lot of exciting players," said the Canadian. "There have been a lot of positives. What I can bring is that experience to go out and create more chances in the final third. I can also help the team using my experience to settle down at times, get a breather at times. I prefer to play on the wings or just behind the striker, just to be that extra factor to help the team get some points on the board.

“There’s never a good time to be injured, of course, but especially coming into a new team because you just want to be out there helping. For me, though, I have to make sure I take all the boxes so that when I am ready for selection, I’m fully ready to help the team out and achieve. I’m feeling really good. The medical staff and the coaching staff have been really, really good with me every day. I feel ready to go."

You can read an extended interview with Junior Hoilett, exclusively on the Hibs Observer, on Friday.