David Gray praises ‘model professional’ Rocky Bushiri after Hibernian equaliser

David Gray praised “model professional” Rocky Bushiri for overcoming his lack of game time this season to score Hibernian’s crucial last-gasp equaliser in Tuesday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen.

The 24-year-old centre-back marked only his second league start of the season by popping up with his first goal in almost three years with the Edinburgh club.

It ensured bottom-of-the-table Hibs claimed a point from an incredible match at Easter Road in which three goals were scored in stoppage time – two equalisers from the hosts either side of an overhead-kick from Dons substitute Ester Sokler.

“I’m delighted for Rocky personally because he’s the model professional,” said Gray. “He’s not played anywhere near the amount of football he would like to have played, but he trains properly every single day.

“He gets frustrated because he’s not playing, of course he does, but he does everything right and he’s waited for his opportunity, and I’m delighted for him that he’s managed to pop up and get his goal.

“He works as hard as he can, he goes away on international duty (with DR Congo), doesn’t play as much as he’d like to do on that front as well, but he’s constantly available and constantly wanting to play and doing everything right so that when he does get his opportunity he’s able to step in and deliver, and I’m delighted for him on a personal note for that.”

Another player who enjoyed a positive night against the Dons was French attacker Elie Youan, who was named man of the match just days after being criticised by former Hibs players Michael Stewart and Marvin Bartley for doing keepy-uppies on the pitch during a stoppage in play after his team-mate Jordan Obita had been sent off against Dundee on Saturday.

“Yes, he has (got resilience), but anyone who knows Elie Youan, he just wants to play football, he loves it,” said Gray. “He’s happiest when he’s playing and that’s what he’s interested in.

“The noise that goes around it, I’m sure it will be very difficult at times, but that’s where he’s happiest, he really enjoys his football when he’s on the pitch.

“(Against Aberdeen) He was really bright, really sharp, obviously difficult to play against because of the attributes he’s got. He had a bit of an injury at the start of the season so he’s getting more minutes into his legs now and that can only be a positive for him and for the team.”