Prem-linked star admits to being affected by transfer interest

Hibernian and Scotland U21 star Josh Doig has admitted speculation surrounding his future has ‘played on my mind’.

Doig is a 19-year-old left-back who is one of Scotland’s brightest young talents.

He was the subject of an intense transfer battle between Burnley and Watford during the summer window.

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Watford got the ball rolling with a £2.5million offer in June, which was soon rejected by Hibernian. They set his price tag at £4m, which neither club was willing to meet.

Doig missed the first league game of the season as head coach Jack Ross admitted he was likely to leave.

But the defender has since returned to the fold and featured in the last three Premiership games.

He is currently away on international duty with Scotland U21s. He could make his debut in the European Championship qualifier against Turkey next week.

“Being away has really helped me after all the speculation,” Doig said (via BBC Sport).

“I was so happy at Hibs but there was a lot of talk and it was playing on my mind a wee bit.

“Obviously there was talk right up to the end of the window, so being away with Scotland has taken me away from all that.”

On the prospect of facing Turkey, he continued: “We’re absolutely buzzing for it, you can feel it in the team.

“For a lot of the boys, including myself, it’s our first time with the 21s so there’s a real energy and excitement about the group.”

Doig was supporting the senior squad in their Euro 2020 campaign earlier this summer. Steve Clarke’s men failed to get out of Group D after picking up just one point from three games.

“When you watch the A team playing at the Euros it’s inspiring for any young Scottish boy,” he added.

“Boys like Ryan Porteous back at Hibs and Lewis Ferguson have gone from the 21s to the A squad recently and previously Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, who both play my position, have come through the Scotland age groups.

“It’s inspiring for myself because it shows the pathway is there.”