Lee Johnson can’t wait to work with Kevin Nisbet at Hibs after admitting he’s such a fan he made four or five “illegal approaches” to the striker in previous jobs.
Nisbet is recovering from a cruciate tear sustained against Celtic three months ago and has earmarked a return to action by the World Cup break in November.
New boss Johnson was keen on signing the Scotland international when he was manager at Sunderland.
And he has held his hands up to desperate attempts to prize the striker, who has struck 27 goals in two seasons in Leith, during his spell as boss at the Stadium of Light.
Hibs last night confirmed Paul McGinn has signed a new one-year extension after triggering a clause in his contract.
But Johnson is desperate to hold onto his younger assets too including Nisbet and Josh Doig.
He said: “I probably illegally approached Kevin Nisbet four or five times!
“Kevin at his best he is a top player and one I've wanted to get hold of for a number of years.
"I think everyone's had a good look at Josh Doig too, a bright, up-and-coming player who now seems to be really experienced despite only being 20.
“It’s a real challenge to keep hold of players like that at a club like this because there is a lot of interest from big clubs.
“We are maybe short of players in their prime so it’s important we develop our assets.”
Johnson is desperate to get to work, insisting he’s ready to “smash down the door” with his high-tempo approach - and wants to make his mark right from the off in the Premier Sports Cup.
The 40-year-old won the competition as a player with Kilmarnock a decade ago and still holds that Hampden shock over Celtic as the best day of his footballing life.
Johnson’s reign at Easter Road gets underway for real with a group stage clash at home to Clyde on July 9.
And speaking to podcasts Down the Slope, Hibs.net, Longbangers and Strong Opinion Hibs, he said: “I’m positive, there’s the makings of a good squad, there’s no doubt we need to add.
“It’s only a year ago we finished third. I’m ambitious and I expect everyone else to be, including the fans. That comes with pressure.
“It’s front foot, we are coming straight through the door and trying to smash it down. Whoever we play we will play to win.
“We need the fans to be onside. I saw a little bit of disconnect between the fanbase and players that I didn’t like.
“It wasn’t much but I feel we can pack that stadium and if we bring high-tempo, forward-thinking, aggressive football then we can be as one again.
“The League Cup is an important competition. I experienced winning it with Kilmarnock and it was one of the best days of my life in terms of my football career, beating Celtic in the final.
“This is something we need to go for and go for early.
“We have a few injuries that cross over into pre-season and that’s even more reason to get the correct recruits in through the door but not to the detriment of getting the right attributes to make us successful.”
Six stars - Scott Allan, Alex Gogić, Sean Mackie, Jamie Murphy, Drey Wright and Innes Murray - last night left the club at the end of their contracts as Johnson continues to build his squad.
And he hailed the arrival of Kenneh from Leeds as a “real coup”.
Johnson said: "To get a 19-year-old England international with that experience who has had a lot of games on the bench for Leeds this year and been excellent for their under-23s is a real coup.
"That's the type of player I'm talking about, one who wants to progress his career and is happy to jump across the border.
"Sometimes in England there's a little bit of a stigma with that. We've got to break that down.
“I’ve played in Scotland. I know how tough it is and how good it is in terms of the passion of the fans and the level of the football and it's up to me to articulate those things to English players.
“He is 6ft 2in, good athlete, really good tactically and a good reader of the game. He can play holding midfield and centre half. To nurture someone like that is important.”
