Similarities between Pinau and Johnny Leith?

French striker Steve Pinau arrived at Easter Road on a one year loan deal from Italian side Genoa back in August and must have expected to have made a bigger impact on the Scottish game other than a goal against Morton in the CIS Insurance Cup.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen was pleased to sign the player having admitted to having watched the striker play for former club Monaco at the end of last season.

So far however the 20 year old has remained on the fringes of the first team and has yet to start a competitive clash.

Pinau to his credit has never had a gripe about his current situation and has only just given his first interview in which he claims he’s perfectly happy to bide his time on the sidelines.

Having been signed prior to Derek Riordan’s return to the club one wonders if Paatelainen would have signed the Frenchman had the deal to bring Deeks back from Parkhead happened earlier in the summer.

Pinau himself admits he is behind the three main strikers, Colin Nish, Steven Fletcher and Riordan and it’s difficult to see where he would fit into the side in it’s current formation.

With Mixu seemingly pleased enough with his diamond shaped midfield the opportunity for the player even to play wide left or right where he featured pre-season seems to be a non starter.

However it may well be the case with a trip to Parkhead looming Mixu may well turn to the Frenchman to provide some genuine pace down either flank (ala Alan O’Brien’s surprise inclusion against Rangers in the Scottish Cup replay last season)in a bid to keep the Celts full backs occupied.

Having arrived with a decent reputation one would hope this loanee can certainly make bigger contribution to the side unlike Hibs last – Torben Joneleit.

Joneleit, a German under 21 international was signed by former manager John Collins last summer, ironically from Monaco, Pinau’s former club.

Collins seemingly had high hopes for the centre half christened ‘Johnny Leith’ by the Hibernian support and after impressing pre-season found himself on the bench for the opening fixtures of the season.

His competitive debut against Gretna however showed up his limitations and a mix up between him and Chris Hogg led to a goal and a two goal lead for the now defunct Borderers.

Following this Joneleit rarely featured in first team or reserve fixtures and following Collins resignation was quickly sent back to his parent club.

Questioning the benefits of each of the players moves to Easter Road on year long transfers will surely be raised should Pinau follow the same path as Joneleit and struggle to see any first team action.

The similarities between both are certainly there having both arrived with a decent pedigree but struggled to make an impact.

Hopefully Pinau, over the course of the season, will not be come Johnny Leith mark II.