Hibernian head coach David Gray was delighted to see former Sligo Rovers striker Owen Elding open his account for his new club as the Leith side overcame St Mirren.
The 19-year-old, who signed for the club on a four-and-a-half year deal in January on the back of an outstanding League of Ireland season that saw him claim 16 goals in 38 games for the Bit o' Red, marked his full debut with a glancing header that put the home side ahead just before the break.
An Ante Suto strike ensured a 2-0 win and Gray was quick to heap praise on the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year as Hibs bounced back from their derby defeat to Hearts to move within two points of fourth-placed Motherwell in the Premiership.
"I'm delighted for Owen on his first start, he’s had to be patient just through circumstances and he’s not got on in the last couple of games as well," he said.
"I thought he affected the game in a positive way against Rangers when he came on.
"And everything we hoped to see from him today we definitely did, which was bringing that energy, that youthful exuberance to the game that I think was required off the back of the disappointment of last week.
"For that goal, there is his movement, anticipating where the ball’s going to go, getting across people.
"He’ll come on from that as well, he’s someone I’ve got high hopes for but at the same time still a young boy, still learning."
Elding earned rave reviews last season where he was named on the PFA Ireland Team of the Year and finished the campaign as Sligo Rovers’ Player of the Year.
Rovers manager John Russell said Elding’s fee was, "an initial significant six-figure sum, which could potentially rise to seven figures" for the player who joined the Sligo as a 12-year-old.
