By Hibernian FC

After signing a new two-year deal with the Hibees in February, Kanayo joined Fife club, Kelty Hearts on loan until the end of the season – his first exposure to senior Men’s football.

After just one training session with the League One side, Kanayo was thrown in at the deep end – playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat to FC Edinburgh.

“It has been really good at Kelty Hearts. This has been my first loan move, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But everyone has been was really welcoming and I have enjoyed it.

“I had one training session before my first game. It was a bit nerve-wracking at the start, having only met the guys once. The Manager told me just to keep playing my own game and to keep doing what I was doing at Hibs and everything would be fine.

“Thankfully he was right and I got through that first game. We ended up losing, but overall I thought I played pretty well and adapted quickly to the level and the tempo."

Slotting in at right-back for John Potter’s side, the 19-year-old already has three 90-minute performances under his belt and has been enjoying the fiercely competitive nature of senior football.

“The football is a lot more direct”, Kanayo explains.

“There are a lot more long balls and you can feel the environment is really competitive. Every week you are playing for points so that drives the standard up – I have really enjoyed that aspect of it.

“I have had to be more switched on and tactically aware and it has definitely helped improve my overall game so far.”

Kanayo’s contract allows him to play and train with Kelty Hearts, whilst also reporting to HTC with Hibs during the week to link up with Steve Kean’s Development Squad.

“I train on Tuesday and Thursday nights and play at the weekend with Kelty Hearts, and then the rest of the week I am in with Hibs. The clubs have been communicating together on my progress, so it is a good agreement that we’ve got together.”

Kelty currently sit eighth in cinch League One – with 34 points from 30 games – with six games remaining Kanayo is hoping to finish the season off as strongly as possible.

“We have six more games left this season – we haven’t won a lot of games recently so we need to get back to winning ways and start climbing the table again. That is the main aim between now and the end of the season.

“For me, it is all about getting as many minutes as possible and making the most of this experience.”