Sibbick glad he chose Hearts over Hibs

NEW Hearts signing Toby Sibbick is ready to resume his Gorgie love affair and insists signing for capital rivals Hibernian was never an option. The versatile 22-year-old is in line to make his second debut for Hearts against Motherwell today as a replacement for the injured Craig Halkett. Sibbick — who had a short, illness-disrupted loan stint at Tynecastle two years ago — returned to the Edinburgh club on Thursday on a three-and-ahalf-year contract after leaving Barnsley. Despite the lack of action in his first spell, Sibbick developed a connection with Hearts. Although the subject of interest from city rivals Hibs in the current transfer window and also last January, the Englishman insists there was never any chance of him heading across the capital to Easter Road. He said: ‘Ever since I left I’ve always kept an eye out for Hearts. ‘I watched their games on television and kept an eye out for their results. ‘I’ve been linked with Hibs twice now but I don’t think I could do it to such a great club because the fans took to me so well, even though I only played a couple of games. ‘Whenever I get linked with Hibs, my direct messages on social media are full of Hearts fans telling me not to go there and come home (to Tynecastle). ‘The two clubs were talking but if it ever came to anything, I would have said ‘no’. ‘I came home and now I’m delighted. I was linked with Hibs twice but I always felt like I would come back to Hearts.’ Motherwell have signed American forward Joe Efford from Belgian side WaaslandBeveren for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old has penned an 18-month deal.