Lee Johnson in Aiden McGeady to Hibs transfer update and reveals Hearts derby chat with window cleaners
Johnson welcomes his former club to Easter Road in just the second week of the season
Lee Johnson has revealed he’s had a chat with Hearts-supporting window cleaners about next season’s Edinburgh derbies.
The new Hibs boss is set to go head-to-head against his Hearts counterpart Robbie Neilson, 16 years after sharing the Tynecastle dressing room with him.
And the pair won't have long to wait until they are in opposing dugouts, with the Jambos heading across the capital to Easter Road in the second game of the Premiership season.
Johnson makes his competitive return to Gorgie on January 2 before they do it all again in Leith on April 15.
And while both will be desperate to get one over the other come derby day, Johnson admits he’s enjoyed a light-hearted look ahead to the eagerly awaited encounters
READ MORE: When the first Hibs vs Hearts clash is as 2022-23 Premiership fixtures are releasedREAD MORE: Transfer news LIVE as Celtic and Rangers plus Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs eye deals"The other day I bumped into two window cleaners very early in the morning on a walk," he explained. "One was a Hearts fan and the other a Hibs fan.
“I got a fair bit of stick off the Hearts fan. It’s all good natured and we had a good chat for about half an hour about the intricacies of the clubs and where they are at the moment.
“(Hearts) is part of my history and of course I wouldn’t change it, but for me the future is really important for Hibs.
“I’ll try and do my very best for the football club and what a great way to showcase what we’re about by performing really well in that second game.”
On the transfer front, Johnson has been heavily linked with a move with Aiden McGeady.
The former Celtic winger is out of contract and could reunite with Johnson after the pair worked together at Sunderland.
There are a number of interested parties and Johnson didn’t rule out Hibs making a move for the Republic of Ireland international.
“I’ve got a strong relationship with Aiden McGeady and he's a fantastic player,” he told Sky Sports. “Unbelievable.
“He gets to the corner of the box and often in that situation, there’s an assist, a shot or goal.
“He;s 36-years-old so whether it’s us or anywhere else, he’s got nothing to prove. He’s a maverick; a challenging but inspiring character to have in the squad and whoever gets Aiden McGeady, will have an exceptional player."