Kieron Bowie buzzing to tick off Hibs milestone as he reveals reason Rocky Bushiri key to his development

Daily Record

2 days ago

The Hibees hitman got his Premiership campaign off to a flier at Dundee by hitting the double that bagged three points
Kieron Bowie believes he is finally ready to become Hibs ' main man and that starts by leading the battle in Belgrade.
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The newly-capped Scotland striker got his Premiership campaign off to a flier with a double in the win at Dundee.
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It was Bowie's first 90 minutes for Hibs and his first for almost two years, when he was out on loan at Northampton for Fulham.
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The 22-year-old has had a good pre-season and feels he is now over the injury problems that curtailed his start at Easter Road.
Bowie has started all three games and is in line to do the same when David Gray's side go into the first-leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier against Partizan Belgrade.
He said: 'It was a tight game and they were really compact at the back, so the chances came from nothing really.
'I scored six goals last season in a limited number of games, so I'm just trying to score as many as I can this season.
'Towards the end of the season I started a few more games, but it was nowhere near enough as what I wanted.
'But I feel like now I'm fit enough and I'm strong enough that I can go out there week in, week out and play 90 minutes. That's definitely a big thing, it showed on Sunday.
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'Definitely, if the manager wants to play me, obviously I'm going to play. I'm not going to say no, I don't want to play.
'I played 90 today, which is my first 90 for the club, so I'm glad to be able to do that. Obviously, off the back of a strong pre-season, I've been able to do that.
'The last time I played 90 minute was at Northampton, so that was two seasons ago.'
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Hibs had the heartbreak of a late Europa League exit to Midtjylland in extra-time.
They rallied against Dundee and Bowie expects his team to be right up for things in their Europa Conference League qualifier in Belgrade.
Bowie said: 'Serbia will be a totally different challenge. Obviously the hostility and all that comes with playing there. But I'm sure we'll just take it in our stride and we'll roll on Thursday.
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'I mean, obviously, it's really important for the club. We've done so well last year and we want to hopefully reap the rewards of that.
'The clubs haven't been in a European group stage, I don't think, so to try and do that and hopefully we can get our way in there somehow.'
Bowie knows Mijylland was disappointing but takes confidence from the fact they pushed a top team all the way.
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He stated: 'I mean, obviously, you see we've done so well over the two legs.
'What was it, 200 odd minutes over two legs? And we limited them to very little.
'The three goals you can see, it's top quality goals and that's what you get when you're playing against top European teams who are well organised.
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"They just allow one moment and they've scored a goal and you're like, oh my God.
'It's tough to take, honestly, during the week. They score a goal like that, that late. But what can you actually do? It's not like we've defended badly.'
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Bowie knows if he can make his mark at Hibs he can add to the Scotland cap he won out in Liechtenstein in the summer, if he impresses Steve Clarke.
He predicted: I'm just sort of taking it in my stride and trying to score every week.
'If I don't score, I'm not going to be happy.
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'Hopefully try and get in more Scotland squads and see what I can do.
'Yes, there's a few young lads there.
'Obviously James Wilson, Tommy Conway. And there's quite a few of us that are there that are all competing for a chance to play.
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'Obviously, they've played a few more games than me, so I'm just trying to get my foot in the door.'
Bowie's sheer physical development is there for all to see and will be a big weapon in Serbia. He is big and powerful and likes to outmuscle defenders.
He explained: 'That's what I try to do, pride myself and just make myself as hard as possible to play against.
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'I speak to the defenders that we have at the club, and they say what they don't like playing against, so I'm trying to do that myself. It's just awkward to play against.'
Rocky Bushiri is one of those Hibs defenders he turns to.
He added: 'Definitely. He's a big, strong unit, so you don't come up against many players that are stronger than him.
'So to train against him and do well against him in training, that's the highest level.
'What does he not like me doing? Anything! I just get the ball, he just lets me have it.
'He's like, nah, I'll just let you play, I don't want to hurt you.'