DOUBLE DEAL FOR HIBS

Hibernian have signed Tom Soares and James McPake on loan for the rest of the season.

Last Updated: 23/01/12 at 19:33 Post Comment   

Tom Soares: Loan switch

Tom Soares: Loan switch

Hibernian have brought in Stoke midfielder Tom Soares and Coventry defender James McPake to boost their ranks for the rest of the season.

Both players have made loan moves to Easter Road, with former Livingston player McPake relishing his return to Scottish football and Soares eager for a career lift after struggling in the Barclays Premier League.

Attacking midfielder Soares joined Stoke from Crystal Palace for £1.25million in 2008 but has been unable to establish himself in manager Tony Pulis' first team.

Following loans at Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, Soares, 25, now heads north of the border in the hope of playing regular football.

He is now hoping for a possible debut for Pat Fenlon's side against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Soares told Hibernian's official website: "I've been impressed with what I've seen at Hibs so far and now I want to repay the manager's faith in me by delivering some performances in the team.

"I've settled in quickly and I'll be ready for Rangers, if selected by the manager. I'm really hungry to get my career back on track and to show the Hibs fans what I'm all about."

McPake, a 27-year-old centre-back, has struggled with injury over the last 18 months and fallen down the pecking order at the Ricoh Arena, making just three league starts this term.

The Scot, signed from Livingston in January 2009, denied reports earlier this month he had handed in a transfer request to Coventry, who are battling for survival in the npower Championship.

However he has always stressed his desire for regular first-team football and now links up with Hibs on a deal until June 30.

The Edinburgh club currently sit just one place and one point above bottom side Dunfermline in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

McPake told hibernianfc.co.uk: "I'm really pleased to be on board with Hibs and can't wait to get started - I'll be counting the days until the match at Ibrox.

"Ever since I moved down the road I've watched a lot of SPL football and cannot believe a club of Hibernian's size are in the position they're in.

"In order to get us back on the right track we've got to give everything in every match, something I'm planning to do.

"That starts at Rangers on Saturday and if I'm selected I will hopefully add a wee bit of steel and commitment to our defence. We need to be harder to break down and I will be doing everything I can to make that happen."

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here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

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remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

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