Hibs closing in on return for Ivan Sproule

Hibs boss Colin Calderwood today revealed he's edging towards a deal to bring fans' idol Ivan Sproule back to Easter Road.

Calderwood has already met the flying winger - who has been released by English Championship side Bristol City - to discuss the possibility of a return to Edinburgh and remains hopeful the Northern Ireland star will do so.

Although unable to give a definite timetable, he said: "Ivan is one we have progressed and talked to this week. Nothing has been concluded but I think we have made good progress there."

Negotiations have been continuing on several fronts this week with Calderwood focused on persuading out-of-contract stars Derek Riordan and Liam Miller to stay at Easter Road.

However, he conceded that as much as he'd like to keep the pair, both players were open to offers from elsewhere with Riordan already said to have turned down a lucrative offer to join American outfit Houston Dynamo.

Some are already resigned to today's match against Aberdeen being 28-year-old Riordan's last for Hibs but Calderwood revealed he believes that even if he does leave he'll be back for a third spell at Easter Road in the future.

Admitting everyone had to be alive to the possibility that Riordan may not be a Hibs player next season, Calderwood said: "We would like to keep him and I would certainly like to keep him.

"I don't think today will be his last game for Hibs. He might not be here next season but I think at some point he will be a Hibs player again."

Calderwood admitted it would be difficult to replace Riordan. who has scored more than 100 SPL goals while insisting he can become an even better player.

He said: "Goalscorers are certainly hard to come by. He's better than I thought he was when I arrived and I think he can be better and become more influential. Experience is going to give him that.

"I've seen a bit of maturity in him in the time I have been here. He's a player who can influence games and the fact he is getting older probably won't harm him too much.

"Even if he is in a different strip he'll still be a Hibs supporter through and through and at some point I'd envisage him playing again at Easter Road."