Shaun Maloney reckons the Hibs faithful should have no problem welcoming Demetri Mitchell to the green half of Edinburgh after watching the former Jambo fight for his capital return.
The 25-year-old spent 18 months on loan at Tynecastle from Manchester United but has now signed up to the Easter Road ranks after quitting Blackpool.
There’s still plenty of evidence of Mitchell’s Hearts connections on his social media accounts but the Hibs’ PR team acted sharply to prevent any of that being cast back at the winger with a tongue-in-cheek Twitter video making light of his Gorgie past.
And Maloney - who has dished out a two-and-a-half-year deal to his new recruit - is in no doubt his maroon loyalties are now firmly a thing of the past after Mitchell’s big push for his Leith move.
The Hibs boss said: “Demetri’s attributes were something I wanted pretty early when I got here.
“I was really glad that we got him so quickly.
“For it to happen in this window, I’m really positive about that.
“In terms of his previous (clubs), I’ve got no reservations at all about him playing for Hearts.
“Our fans have been really, really supportive since I’ve been here. I don’t see that being any different with any player.
“Demetri made a big push to come here.
“I respect Blackpool for the help they have given in getting it through over the last couple of days.
“But Demetri made it clear his desire to come here.”
Asked if he feared his new signing might come under extra pressure if he failed to hit the ground running, Maloney added: “I think it’s a little harsh to presume that one he might not start so well or that might be the reception.
“I understand it. I respect the history between the two clubs but in terms of Demetri specifically I don’t have any concerns about him settling in immediately with us in our group.
“He’s really committed so I have no concerns about him playing for Hearts previously and now him signing for us for the next two and a half years.”
Mitchell is short on fitness so is unlikely to make a start when Hibs travel west to face Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday night.
And Maloney admits fans should not expect to see fellow January recruit Elias Melkersen making a major contribution for some time yet either.
The Norwegian youngster has finally been granted a work permit but Maloney does not want to rush the 19-year-old striker into top-team action too soon.
“It’s going to be a really slow process with Elias,” he said. “We’re looking to develop him more over a period of time.
“That’s not a short-term one. We’ll build him up with B team games and then eventually he will become available for the first team.”
Hibs can leapfrog Well back into the Premiership's European slots with a win in Lanarkshire.
“We understand it’s a big game,” said Maloney. “Motherwell have obviously done very well and there’s a reason why they’re on form.
“It’s a big game but there are still numerous games to come.
“But it does feel like a big game - but then every one has.
“We had this exact same feeling when we played Aberdeen - Aberdeen were ahead of us. When we played Dundee United they were ahead of us.
“This feels very similar to those games.
“If we can perform like we did in large parts of those two games then hopefully it will be a positive result for us.”
