GARRY O’CONNOR has watched Hibs hitman Kieron Bowie lose his place for club and country in a tough week.
But the ex-Easter Road pin-up reckons fans just need to stay patient and they’ll see the best of the current No 9.
Bowie was dropped to the bench by David Gray for the 2-2 draw at Livingston last Saturday.
He also lost his Scotland squad place to Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland for the World Cup double-header against Greece and Denmark.
But O’Connor is a big fan of Bowie and says it’s just a matter of time before he’s back as first pick.
O’Connor, speaking at a 5 Star International event, said: “I like Kieron and think the fans need to be patient with him.
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“He’s still a developing young player. The goals will come, his touch will come.
“We need to nurture these young Scottish players because he’s a future No9 for the country.
“It’s about keeping him right. He’s a fantastic player and if Hibs can hold on to him they’ll be doing well.
“It’s a great club to go and score goals for. Kieron has a wee bit about him. He’s strong and can run in behind. He bullies defenders.
“He’s got everything to his game but people need to calm down a wee bit with him.
“Just let him play. Let him play a full season and see what his numbers are.
“I see people talking about his touch. But as a striker, your touch definitely gets better in your mid-20s. You understand where to put your body.
“It’s about gaining that experience and that will come for him as he gradually builds this season because he was injured for a lot of last season.”
O’Connor, 42, had two spells at Hibs in a career which also yielded 16 Scotland caps and four goals.
And the former frontman – who also had two periods in Russia and played in the English Premier League with Birmingham – says it takes time to learn the No9 role.
He added: “The way I looked at it, you’re basically raw until your mid-20s.
“At the beginning of your 20s, you do everything off the cuff.
“When you’ve got a few seasons under your belt, everything starts to come a bit easier – your positioning, your movement.
“But Kieron’s got the absolute lot. He’s got the world at his feet.
“He’s not your usual modern-day striker, which is very unusual. He reminds me a wee bit of myself where he’s big, strong, and powerful.
“Those strikers are hard to come by now, we don’t really produce them – and that’s in world football as well.
“It’s more strikers who are fast and want to run in behind, and they can play on the wings. The big man is a No9.”
And O’Connor feels sure Bowie – who could face St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday evening – can fight his way back into Scotland’s World Cup plans.
He said: “If you look at that Scotland team, a few strikers are in or near their 30s.
“Kieron has to do well for his club, I understand that, but if does that he’ll be in there.
“He’s been in and around the squad but hopefully Steve gives him that opportunity.
“But there’s no doubt about it, if he’s still fit and healthy, he’ll be Scotland’s main man in a few years.”
O’Connor has been hugely impressed by Gray’s work at Hibs and reckons a couple of January signings could help them achieve back to back top-three finishes.
He added: “We’re maybe a wee bit short with one or two players. We could maybe get a No6, a central midfielder, and maybe another defender for competition.
“I like Josh Mulligan, I really rate him. He’s been outstanding. His work ethic is phenomenal, and then there’s what he does with the ball.
“He makes the right decisions, works back the park and tries to get forward.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor is relishing his current role with 5 Star International.
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He explained: “5 Star go the extra mile. It’s not just signing people up on scholarships.
“They help nurture them, bring in experience like me, Gordon Smith and other coaches. They work with their families and that’s what I like about it.”
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