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Kevin Nisbet eyeing Scotland call-up

Kevin Nisbet eyeing Scotland call-up
© Reuters
The 23-year-old already has 12 goals to his name since joining Hibs from Dunfermline in the summer.

Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet feels setting big targets is important for his progression as he eyes a place in Scotland's Euro 2020 squad.

Nisbet has enjoyed consistent advances in his career after being released by Partick Thistle in the summer of 2018.

The forward netted 34 goals in one season for Raith Rovers before signing for Dunfermline, where he struck 23 goals in 32 appearances.

The 23-year-old quickly showed he could score in the top flight after his summer move to Easter Road and has 12 goals to his name ahead of Monday's Scottish Premiership clash at Celtic Park.

Now he is looking to step up a level into international football.

"For me it's just about keep performing, keep playing well and keep scoring goals and keep putting that thought into Steve Clarke's head about the Euros and upcoming international break," he said.

"I think it's all down to me just to keep performing and keep putting that wee bit in his head to get picked.

"As you get closer, you need to set targets and one of my targets at the start of the season was to get a call-up. I think I've got a good chance but it's all down to me and how I'm performing over the next few months."

Targets have been an important part of Nisbet's rise.

"I think you need to have short-term goals and long-term goals," he said.

"I am quite private with my goals, I don't really tell a lot of people. I always write them down and see if I've hit them by certain dates.

"It's just about keeping going, keep scoring goals, keep performing and keep trying to fire Hibs up the league.

"I have always backed up what I said. At the start of the season, I said I would come and score goals and I have. I have done that in the last few seasons.

"Everyone else wasn't expecting it but I always put pressure on myself to go out and perform every week and I think I have done that.

"But it's about continuing that and not listening too much about transfer noise. It's just pure focus on Hibs and scoring goals."

Speculation has included links with Sunderland and Sheffield United but Nisbet has experience of handling the interest, notably when Hibs and Dundee United failed with bids for him in January last year.

"I've had it the last two seasons so for me I'm a Hibs player and that's it really," he said. "Everything else is put to the side.

"I don't really take much notice, to be honest. Obviously when the window opens and you are a striker in form, scoring goals and performing well, then there's obviously going to be interest.

"It's flattering but it's purely Hibs and looking forward to Monday."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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