Kevin Nisbet has revealed Kieran Tierney has been the man to help him through his time out injured as he opened up on the texts the duo have shared.
The pair first met as kids at Celtic when they were nine-years-old and reconnected in the senior Scotland set-up. The Hibs star has been out injured since he was stretchered off with a cruciate ligament injury back in February, and his pal KT made sure to get in touch and offer his support.
Just a few months later Tierney would suffer an injury with the Easter Road man returning the favour for the Arsenal star during his rehab.
READ MORE: Jack Ross got 'real buzz and excitement' from Dundee United job as ex-Hibs gaffer returns to game
The Scotland pair would text every couple of days to check in on one another and discuss the programmes they were on in a bid to return to full fitness. The support shown from the former Celtic man has proved a huge help to Nisbet as he opened up on his help.
He told the Scottish Sun: “Myself and KT are really good mates. We were together at Celtic when we were about nine-years-old, and then we went our separate ways as happens in football.
“When I was called up for Scotland we reconnected, and we have been close since then which has been great.
“I was gutted when he suffered his injury and that ruled him out for Scotland in those important games.
“We texted each other every few days to see how each other is doing and talk about rehab programmes.
“It’s never nice to be injured, but to have a good mate, and someone you trust, going through it has been a big help.
“KT knows how I am feeling and vice-versa, so we can support each other through it.
“You can talk to your friends and family when you are out, but they maybe don’t understand how you are feeling.
"When I am down I can drop him a text, and he will know how I am feeling because he has been in the same boat.
“We are able to bounce ideas off of each other as well.
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“Kieran and I can talk about what he is working on that might help me, and it’s exactly the same with me for him.
“We were gutted that Scotland didn’t make the World Cup because it would have been a dream to have played in one.
“But there’s always another one in four years.
“I would love to get back to playing for Scotland again with KT, but I have plenty to do before I can even think of that.
“I have to get myself fit and then back scoring goals for Hibs again and performing well to get my place back in the Scotland squad.
“My most important aim right now is just getting back on the park with the boys and then we will go from there.”
Since Nisbet was ruled out Shaun Maloney has been axed at the Easter Road helm and replaced by Lee Johnson.
The new boss has been very active in the transfer market as he continues to put his own stamp on his new-look Hibs side.
Nisbet has revealed he has been in constant contact with the new gaffer, and revealed he has previously tried to sign him.
He continued: “I sat down with the gaffer in the days after he was announced and we have had chats since then.
“He’s tried to sign me a few times in the past, so it’s always good having a manager coming in who likes you.
“I won’t get carried away though, I know I still need to impress him on the training ground, and then the park when I am fit again.
“I’ve not mentioned his Hearts past yet, I might in the future right enough!
“The boys have taken to him really well, his principles and the way he wants to play the game, the boys are excited by it.
“He’s got a lot of experience at the top level and the places he has been are impressive.
“Now we want to make sure we have a good start and ultimately a good season.
"Last season has been put to bed and we aren’t talking about it, it’s all about moving on.
“It’s a fresh start for everyone with the new manager, now we have to work as hard as we can to rectify that.”
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