When it became clear to Alan Gow that he would be able to return to Scotland during the transfer window there was as you would expect a great deal of interest from several clubs on this side of the border. A move to the other side of Edinburgh even looked a possibility at one point - but a call to John Hughes on the final day of the window kicked off a chain of events that finally saw the player committing himself to Hibernian until the end of the season, and a reunion tomorrow with a few familiar faces.

Throughout his time with Blackpool, Norwich and finally Plymouth, Alan had remained in touch with his mentor during his two years at Falkirk - Gow had taken note of the progress being made at Hibernian, so it was an easy choice to make when the opportunity to play for the club came his way. In an exclusive interview today for Hibernian TV, Alan said: "I wanted to move back home and obviously I was good friends with John Hughes having worked with him before, so there was an opportunity for me to come and play for a good football side. I worked with the manager at Falkirk and also with Brian Rice when I was at Airdrie before that - so they were the main reason I wanted to come to Hibernian, they helped me out in my career and to improve as a player."

As is always the case during the transfer window there was a great deal of speculation over clubs that might be interested in bringing Gow back to Scotland, and that included a possible move to Hearts - which Alan admitted might well have happened: "The whole thing was really done on the last day of the transfer window - there had actually been other teams that I was talking to but once I'd spoken to John Hughes I knew that I was only really interested in coming to Hibernian. I really did not want to go anywhere else, there was a few things agreed with other clubs but I wanted to come here.

"There was a possibility of my going to Hearts and to be honest it was nearly a done deal right up to the last day there - but once Hibernian came in I knew where I wanted to go."   The Hibernian squad had a day off today when Gow made his first visit to the Hibernian Training Centre - however when he does meet up with his new team-mates tomorrow there will be a few familiar faces around: "Kevin McBride had actually arrived at Falkirk after I had left but I had played against him a few times, but I know Patrick Cregg from my time at Falkirk and Anthony Stokes. I also know Graham Stack - I played with him at Blackpool when I was on loan there from Rangers, while John Rankin and I go back some way as we played in the same youth side in Glasgow."

At Plymouth Alan found himself playing in central midfield for most of his first-team appearances, although the versatile player can be used anywhere along the midfield - and as a striker, so providing John Hughes with a number of permutations under which he can use his latest signing. Not that Gow is taking anything for granted at Easter Road, he knows already the standards are high at the club: "I know the quality of the players that are already at Hibernian - I'd played with a lot of them and played against most of the others so I'm really looking forward to playing in this side. And working with the gaffer again is exciting - he lets players express themselves, nobody is scared to play under him and he certainly suited my style of game at Falkirk.

"I've only had a wee look at the Training Centre and will meet up with the rest of the squad tomorrow - but the manager gave me a short tour and it's really an impressive place."