Crossing a football divide isn’t for everybody.
But for Demetri Mitchell making the move to Hibs last week was never a case of going against his heart. Or Hearts to be precise.
The former Tynecastle loanee, twice removed, didn’t think twice about becoming the latest recruit in Shaun Maloney ’s Easter Road revolution despite his previous ties with their arch rivals.
That it came in the same week as Toby Sibbick claimed he couldn’t even think about becoming a Hibee after a spell on loan at Tynecastle - despite interest from Leith - thrust Mitchell even further into the spotlight.
Just to make sure, the 25-year-old was subjected to a mock interrogation to pledge allegiance to the Leith cause as Hibs’ social media bods played to the gallery to cleanse the new boy of his past association in Gorgie.
But Mitchell insists there will be no need for cross-examination after he steps right back into the line of fire in tomorrow’s clash of the capital big guns.
Indeed he has so little trouble with his decision that the first thing the former Manchester United wing-back did after sealing his return to the cut and thrust of Edinburgh’s football rivalry was hunt out the derby.
Mitchell’s first experience of Scottish football came in a 1-0 Scottish Cup victory for Hearts against his new team and he went on to play a total of three Edinburgh derbies without defeat.
Now he’s on the other side though.
As he prepares to follow the likes of Eamonn Bannon, Paul Hartley, Darren Jackson and Gordon Durie in representing both halves of the Auld Reekie divide, Mitchell said: “I was looking through the fixture list for the derby to see where it was.
“It’s a huge game on Tuesday night and hopefully we can get a result and play some good football.
“I’ll get a hot reception, I’m pretty sure of that. I’m ready for it though.
“I’m a Hibs player now and I’m raring to get going and keep progressing.
“Pressure doesn’t bother me, I don’t mind it. I’m a footballer and we all have to deal with pressure.
“I have had a bit of stick for coming here. That’s part and parcel of being a footballer. It is what it is.
“But I was on loan from Manchester United when I was at Hearts. I’m a Hibs player now and that’s what I’m focused on - looking forward not back.
“I know how big the game is. I know how big playing in the SPL is.
“The lads here have embraced me and I get along with them all. Hopefully we can get a result on Tuesday.”
Mitchell wasted no time in winning over his new fanbase with a fifth minute goal on his first start against Livingston on Saturday, even if that ultimately ended in a miserable 3-2 defeat.
He admitted upon signing that the lure of playing European football played a big part in his decision to move to Leith.
But Hibs will have to sharpen up after throwing away a half-time lead against Livi if they’re to get back on track for that target.
They were booed off by a frustrated home support on Saturday and it’s just one point from the last three games for Maloney whose side now trail third-placed Hearts by 12 points.
But Mitchell insists Maloney’s plan is a work in progress that will be worth the wait.
He said: “We’re all buying into the manager’s message.
“We are working hard every day in training on the message he is getting across. Hopefully we can show it against Hearts because there’s no better game to bounce back in.
“We played some good football in the first half against Livingston.
“It was great to get a goal so early in my career here especially in front of the fans at home.
“But the most important thing was the result and we never got that. It was a game of two halves and it’s definitely not the result we were looking for.
“I never saw as much of the ball second half, they pressed a bit higher and made it difficult.
“It was disappointing to concede the goals we did. We have been undone by two set pieces.
“But we are a work in progress. It’s something we need to keep working on. Ironing out the little mistakes.”
