Lennon: Horgan signing a real coup for Hibs

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon feels he has pulled off a coup by completing the signing of Irish winger Daryl Horgan.

The Republic of Ireland international has signed a three-year contract after joining from Preston for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old made 44 appearances in 18 months for North End after moving from Dundalk, who he helped reach the Champions League play-offs.

Lennon said: “We are very pleased to welcome Daryl to the club. He’s one we’ve been keen on for a long time and it’s a real coup to get him over the line.

“Daryl will give us a real threat going forward and some strength out wide – we had been looking to add in that area and I’m delighted with the options we now have.

“He has power and pace and will hopefully give us another dimension to our play in the final third.”

Horgan could make his debut in Sunday’s Ladbrokes Premiership encounter against St Johnstone – but is not eligible for the second leg of Hibs’ Europa League contest with Molde on Thursday.

Horgan said: “I am delighted to have made the move to Hibs. I’ve spoken to the manager and am excited for his plans for the season ahead.

“Obviously the boys have started well in Europe and the league – they had a good season last year and the ambition is there to follow that up with another successful year.

“I’m ready to play and looking forward to trying to break into the team.”

Lennon is still trying to add to his squad but he feels they are in good shape as they prepare for their seventh competitive match of the season.

“These games are coming thick and fast,” he said. “It’s been a pretty tough ask on the players but they are handling it very, very well. And we have to go again – we just have the small matter of playing St Johnstone away now.

“It’s a very quick turnaround but we look forward to it and we look forward to Norway next week.

“St Johnstone are the only team we didn’t beat last year so we know they make life difficult for us. Tommy (Wright) is a very wily manager, very smart, very shrewd. He’s had a difficult time because he’s lost a lot of good players and when that happens, it’s difficult to find replacements for them.

“But it’s very early season and he will be hell-bent on getting off the mark in the league. It’s a good game for us to get our teeth into.”