The blond Mohican haircut. Socks down at his ankles and shirt hanging out his shorts. On visuals alone, it’s easy to form a perception of Harry McKirdy.
The words cocky and arrogant immediately spring to mind. A London wide boy who’s got too big for his boots. That’s the image. That’s what comes into your head when you see him on the pitch for Hibs struggling to even get a shot on target. Then you meet him. And you quickly realise that all is not as it seems with McKirdy. He’s refreshingly honest, for a start. But more than that, there’s actually a shyness about the 26-year-old.
A vulnerability. His humility certainly doesn’t sit with the preconceived ideas that seem to have hung over the striker ever since he arrived in Edinburgh. This guy doesn’t need people having a pop. He needs someone to put an arm around him. And listening to the desperation in his voice to be a success at Easter Road you can’t help but want it for him.
The striker was signed by Lee Johnson from Swindon Town on the last day of the summer transfer window after bagging 26 goals in English League One.
Hibs fans expected him to set the Premiership alight. And so did McKirdy. Instead, in his 15 appearances for the club he has failed to muster a single goal or assist. So what’s gone wrong? McKirdy admits he’s as frustrated as anyone.
But contrary to some reports in January, he’s not about to throw the towel in. He said: “It’s tough to put it into words. It has been far from good so far and not what I expected.
“It’s been difficult. But I’m eight months into a three-year deal so there is plenty of time to turn it around. It’s more how you finish at a club that gets you remembered.
“But I know I’ve had long enough to do more than I have done here. I had 40 goals and assists last season so that’s something you get used to.
“Every time I stepped on the pitch, I expected to get one or two, grab the winner or set it up. That was the habit I got into. At Swindon I was untouchable, I could do what I wanted really.
“This season has been different and I can’t shy away from that. No goals or assists is just not good enough. It’s tough because it does play on your mind.
“The players, staff and supporters look at me in a different light now. They don’t have expectations now. They did when I first came in but I’ve now been written off by most people outside of Hibs.
“The boys are desperate for me to get a goal. They want to see my machine-gun celebration. And I’m desperate for it to happen.”
McKirdy is a character, alright. In August last year, after being sent off in a game against Salford City, he went to the referee’s room and sprayed his suit with a protein drink. That earned him an FA charge that led to a three-game ban and £1500 fine.
To know McKirdy, you have to understand his background. After being released by Aston Villa in 2019 he has dotted around England’s lower leagues. But it wasn’t that long ago when he was in danger of dropping out of the game altogether.
He’s aware of the perception around him – but insists it doesn’t ring true. The Hibs striker said: “When I see the criticism and people writing me off or shouting stuff at games, I know there’s a misconception that I don’t care.
“But I do. Maybe it’s because I support Chelsea. I get a lot of messages and comments from people saying: ‘This is Hibs, not Chelsea.’
“But that’s got nothing to do with it. I’m allowed to support Chelsea and still care about Hibs. You can tell that when I’m on the pitch. My effort is there.
“But sometimes things don’t fall for you. I wish I wasn’t bothered – but I am. I wish I could forget about it and think: ‘I’ve got two years left, I’ll just sit here on more money than I’ve been on in years in a nice city with nice golf courses so I’ll just play golf then go home.’
“I wish I could be like that but I can’t. I’m desperate to score goals here. I miss that feeling so much. This is the longest drought I’ve ever had. But listen, my career has been far from plain sailing.
“In the summer I was bought by a massive club. But the year before that I couldn’t even get a club to take me on trial in England.
“There were League Two clubs putting the phone down and not letting me in the building. So this isn’t the lowest point in my career, I’ve had plenty.”
McKirdy doesn’t mind taking flak, whether it’s for his hair or his lack of goals. After everything he has been through in his career so far, he’s thick-skinned enough to deal with it. But he’s adamant he made the right decision by joining Hibs.
Ahead of the clash with the league’s bottom side Dundee United, he said: “I could have stayed at Swindon, not scored goals and been thinking: ‘Why did I stay here when I had the opportunity to go?’
“It’s been frustrating but there are no regrets. People don’t know but I’ve been there, the fan in the stands. I don’t know Chelsea players but if they have a bad touch I’ll still call them useless. That’s just how it is.
“People see me warming up and give my hair a bit of stick. I quite like that. I thrive off it. For the first time in five years, I’ve still got a job next year. So I won’t get too down.
“This isn’t the lowest I’ve been so it’s not a case of feeling sorry for myself. I’m just desperate for it to turn. This game owes me nothing.
“I haven’t had all my ups yet and I’m definitely not out of downs in my career yet. When I have good times, I make the most of it and enjoy it. I just can’t wait for those times to come back.”
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