Soccer

Neil Warnock turns to familiar face as Aberdeen sign Junior Hoilett

The winger has played for Warnock at QPR and Cardiff.

Junior Hoilett has joined Aberdeen
Junior Hoilett has joined Aberdeen (Richard Sellers/PA)
By PA Sport Staff

Aberdeen manager Neil Warnock has renewed his acquaintance with Junior Hoilett after signing the winger in a deal until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Canada international joins following a spell with Vancouver Whitecaps.

The left-sided player has spent most of his career in the English league with the likes of Blackburn, QPR, Cardiff and Reading.

“Junior is a player I know well – he’s played for me three times so I know him inside out,” said Warnock.

“He’s an international player and I think he’ll benefit the squad between now and the end of the season.”

“I’ve worked with the gaffer before so it was a no-brainer to come up here and join him,” said Hoilett, who played in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has scored 16 goals in 62 internationals.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m just happy at the prospect of getting back out there playing football again under a manager who knows how to get the best out of the squad. I’ve no doubt he’ll get everyone working together so I’m delighted to be here.

“I still have a lot of fire in me for the game. I want to enjoy playing football again. I have been keeping fit training with Reading and just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. When the gaffer phoned it was a blessing and I am delighted to be here.

“I can tell already from the welcome I’ve had that it’s a great club and I want to be part of it and help the squad move up the table.”

Warnock will be reunited with another former player on Saturday when the Dons host a Hibernian side managed by former Sheffield United midfielder Nick Montgomery.

Aberdeen are looking for a better outcome than Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Motherwell, although that could have been a lot worse given the visitors were three up inside 26 minutes at Pittodrie.

And the Dons boss admits the game will hinge on how his side cope with Hibs attackers Martin Boyle, Elie Youan and Dylan Vente.

“What Hibs have got is a very, very good front three,” Warnock said. “Looking at the clips that I’ve seen, I don’t think there’ll be many better in the division really. So it’ll be a good test for our defenders.

“We’ve got a lot of strength in the other areas and so we’ve got to play to our strengths as well. We need to get the fans going as well and try not to concede so early.”