There’s a new striker in the door at Hibs after they announced the loan signing of Middlesbrough frontman Matthew Hoppe.
And his arrival comes at a timely juncture for Lee Johnson, who watched in-form Kevin Nisbet limp off with a suspected hamstring injury against Ross County. The Scotland striker has eight goals in eight games since returning from injury, and looked set to join Millwall last week before that move was kiboshed after a change of heart.
Nisbet came off the bench to score in Saturday’s 6-0 mauling of sorry Aberdeen. He was in from the start for the trip to Dingwall, but pulled up clutching the back of his leg, with Johnson now facing a nervous wait to learn the extent of the damage. Elie Youan gave Hibs the lead in NIsbet’s absence, but Hoppe could find himself pitched in sooner than expected if their star man is ruled out.
The American international has an impressive pedigree on paper. He had spells with Schalke and and Real Mallorca after graduating from the LA Galaxy academy. However, he’s yet to make a top team appearance for Boro and hasn;t scored a first team goal since finding the net for Mallorca in La Liga back in september 2021.
Johnson said of his new signing: “We’re delighted to add Matthew to the group as he’s someone that’ll add extra quality in the final third.
“He’s a talented player that can play in all three positions across our front-line and someone that joins with good experience being a full US international and that has played regularly in the Bundesliga.
“We look forward to working with him and welcome him to the club.”
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