Sunderland loan development confirmed as terms of deal for Black Cats player extended
NECTAR TRIANTIS will not be returning to Sunderland this month - and will spend the rest of the season on loan at Hibernian.
Hibs boss David Gray heaped praise on Triantis for establishing himself as a key man in his side's midfield as he confirmed that the on-loan Black Cat will be remaining at Easter Road for the remainder of the campaign.
The 21-year-old Australian joined Hibs on a season-long loan from Sunderland in the summer after a relatively low-key loan stint with the Edinburgh club in the second half of last term under Nick Montgomery.
Triantis has emerged as one of Hibs’ most important players as they have recovered from a poor start to surge from bottom of the Premiership to sixth place with a run of six wins and just one defeat in their last ten games.
Triantis – who has been converted from centre-half to central midfielder under Gray – headed the winner against Kilmarnock a fortnight ago and scored his second career goal on Saturday as he delivered a Man-of-the-Match display in a 3-1 triumph at home to Motherwell.
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“No, he’ll still be here, which is great,” said Gray, ruling out the prospect of Sunderland recalling Triantis this month. “Even though he is a loan player, I think he’s shown he’s very much part of the team and really enjoying his football at the moment.
“He’s done really well again today. I thought he was everywhere in the first half, real good composure on the ball as well, and then even moments in the second half, breaking up the play. He’s not played as a centre midfielder for a long time in his career.
“Obviously, he came over as a centre-back, so we’ve done a lot of work with him trying to get him into that (midfield) position, and you can clearly see he’s getting better and fitter all the time."
