Liam Lindsay tips former boss Paul Heckingbottom to be a hit at Hibs

Barnsley defender Liam Lindsay believes Hibernian can shoot up the Ladbrokes Premiership under new boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The former Tykes and Leeds manager was appointed head coach at Easter Road on Wednesday night on a three-and-a-half-year deal and will be assisted by ex-Scotland international Robbie Stockdale.

Heckingbottom took Lindsay to Oakwell from Partick Thistle in June 2017 for an undisclosed fee before leaving for Elland Road the following February where his tenure there lasted until last summer.

Barnsley dropped out of the Championship last season but Lindsay saw enough in Heckingbottom to believe he will be a success at Hibs, who are currently eighth in the table.

“It is a good appointment for Hibs,” the 23-year-old centre-back told Press Association Sport.

“The main thing about him is that everyone will know what they are doing. Tactically and in terms of organisation, he is brilliant.

“If there is a mistake made there is no blaming everyone else. Everyone knows what they need to do. He is very approachable. You can speak to him if anything is going wrong.

“You can have a joke with him before training but when training starts it is serious and training is good and sharp.

“If everyone buys into what he is doing and everyone is disciplined then I am sure they will shoot up that league. I am sure it will happen for him.”

Lindsay hopes to return to the Championship next season – Barnsley are six points behind League One leaders Luton with a game in hand – but believes they would never have left the second tier had Heckingbottom stayed at the club.

“I really enjoyed working under him,” he said.

“I am obviously grateful for him having belief in me and he played me in nearly every game.

“He left in February, I am sure if we had kept him we would have stayed up to be honest.

“You know when you have a manager who knows what he is talking about. You have respect for him.

“We all had respect for him down here and we all played for him. So I think he will be a success at Hibs.”