Newell is more than happy to be Hibs boss Jack’s Joe of all trades

Being a star player isn’t the be-all and end-all for most footballers.

But being a team player is huge.

That’s the mission for Hibs’ Joe Newell – and it’s one he’s achieving in notable style.

Signed by Paul Heckingbottom to stride forward on the left of midfield, he has instead become the Hibees’ Mr Versatile under Jack Ross.

It’s a role that speaks of the esteem in which he is held by his manager.

And Newell, who appeared at left-back in Hibs’ midweek win over Ross County, is determined to keep proving himself worthy.

“Right-wing, all across the midfield, left wingback – I’ve been all over the shop!” joked the Englishman.

“No, the gaffer has asked me to play a few different positions and I’m more than happy to do that.

“I’m a team player and I’m quite versatile. So when he spoke to me, I was more than happy to do a job there.

“The boss was thinking about the shape and personnel for the Ross County game and asked me in the lead up to it whether I had played at left-back before.

“I told him I had, when I was younger . . . a lot younger! It was a few years ago since I’ve done that job. But it’s not out of the ordinary for me.

“It’s not easy to do these different roles, but I seem to be able to fill in and feel comfortable doing it. It’s not like anything is alien to me.

“I appreciate the trust the gaffer puts in me to do a job in different areas.”

Hibs will today face a Kilmarnock side still flying high after their midweek win over Rangers.

But following their first back-to-back wins since November, the Hibees are also full of confidence.

That wasn’t the case earlier in the season, leading up to former boss Heckingbottom’s sacking.

But former Rotherham United man Newell knew it would only be a matter of time until the criticism heading his way turned to praise.

“Without sounding big-headed, because that’s not me at all, I know I’ve played enough games at a good level and I’ve always believed in my own ability,” said 26-year-old Newell.

“When you see and hear things – negative comments about you – no-one wants to see them. But I knew I’d turn it around.

“It wasn’t just the new signings that weren’t doing well, the whole team wasn’t getting results. So to come out the other side, fully settled and with the team doing well, that will stand us in good stead.

“There was criticism on social media, and I am a social media guy. But, even if you’re not, you still have mates texting you saying: ‘Ah, the fans are slaughtering you’, and you’ve got your missus reading things.

“It’s the modern way now, isn’t it? It’s not like the old days when the fans went to the pub, slagged you off but no one heard about it. It’s all online now and you can’t avoid it.”

“But it’s part and parcel now, you’ve just got to block it out. You don’t get too high when things are going well and don’t get too low when things are going badly.”

Meanwhile, Jack Ross is delighted with how his deadline-day signings have started their Hibs careers.

Of his three last-minute arrivals, Greg Docherty and Marc McNulty have been the headline grabbers.

But for Ross, Paul McGinn’s (left) contribution has been peerless.

“He’s the one that will probably get far less written about him than Greg and Marc. But Paul has been terrific,” said the Hibs boss.

“He’s just so consistently good – and playing in different positions, as well.

“Paul’s a manager’s dream. I’ve known him a long time as he played under me when I was assistant manager at Dumbarton.

“He was a good right-back at that level and his career has obviously progressed from there.

“But the interesting thing for me about him, is that I couldn’t have said at Dumbarton that he’d have the versatility he’s able to show now.

“He has played in back fours, back threes, in the middle of a back three, as an orthodox centre-half – and these are things I’d say I didn’t see in him.

“That shows how much he has grown as a player.

“Also, I think he just backs himself. He’s 29 now and he has played plenty of games.

“I knew what I was getting with Paul, and that’s why I was so keen to get him.”