Eyebrows were raised when Ryan Gauld sealed his move to Sporting Lisbon from Dundee United in 2014, with the club putting a €60 million buy-out clause in his six-year contract (Sporting official). And United are my team in Scotland, so I could never say never to going back there some day.With his contract not up until next year, he is not eyeing a swift return to Scotland, while any move to England would be examined thoroughly.When Ryan Gauld returned to Scotland for a loan spell at Hibs last January there was plenty of excitement.The period at Hibs was not the best moment in his career, but he is playing some of his best football of his career this season with second tier side Farense.That excitement fizzled as reality didn’t tally with fantasy. It wouldn’t be my top choice to go back again but you can never rule it out. Ryan Gauld playing for Scotland Under-21s (Image: SNS Group) Given the fanfare which greeted his move to Sporting CP, it’s tempting to view Ryan Gauld’s return to Scotland with Hibs as a young player burned by an experience abroad, returning to his homeland with his tail between his legs. Gauld came close to his first senior Scotland cap back in 2014 when he was called up for Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Georgia and Poland. Kieran Trippier [Tottenham - Atletico Madrid] £20m. Ex-Dundee United and Hibs ace Ryan Gauld celebrates promotion to Portuguese top-flight after Liga Pro called early. Whatever has been thrown at the players, they've responded. Hibernian are delighted to confirm the signing of Ryan Gauld on loan from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season. King Arthur. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t like to try something new but I played all my youth football in Scotland, then with the first team in the top league at Dundee United,” he said.Then Hibs boss Neil Lennon said of the loan deal until the end of the season: “Ryan may see the runs that others don’t. Where once he would cut in from the wing onto his favoured left foot, Sporting immediately looked to move him to a deeper role.Though still just a kid, Gauld was linked with the likes of Manchester United, Roma and Real Madrid. Marciano said. At the time, Neil Lennon’s side were in real need of midfield reinforcements as well as a … Things haven’t gone totally to plan for the midfielder since making that move, with the player heading out a number of times on loan to the likes of Vitoria de Setubal, Aves, Farense and Hibs for half a season in …
Scottish football being what it is, some even started to refer to the youngster as ‘Mini Messi’, the winger standing a full two inches shorter than the diminutive Argentine superstar.
Also very partial to a cheeky pub quiz.The star, now 24, is enjoying his best-ever season as a professional, scoring nine goals so far for the title-chasers, including a hat-trick against Academico Viseu last month – the first of his career.
Gauld has been out since Hibs' 2-0 defeat at Celtic in early February. In flashes though, you could tell the midfielder was a special talent.Ryan Gauld is in superb form with Farense following Sporting struggles (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)Gauld’s time abroad has largely been a frustration but 2019/20 has seen him finally harness his abilities, and he even wore the captain’s armband against Estoril last month, suggesting he has also developed some leadership qualities.Last summer, he joined former loan club Farense on a permanent basis, and that appears to have been the catalyst for change for Gauld, who is now experiencing a new lease of life with the Portuguese second division side.He is bang in form right now and it’s great to see the Dundee United academy product finally hitting a good run of games.He only made five appearances for Sporting’s first-team, spending most of his time with the B side.Tom is a Public Relations (Sports) graduate who has built up experience in digital football writing and original content production, with words having reached millions online. "Sportscene will show all of the day's Scottish Premiership goals every Saturday evening this season.Hibs, who sit sixth with two games left before the split, host third-place Kilmarnock on Wednesday night knowing victory will secure a top-half finish. "He is just not ready to be involved with us daily," the Hibs boss added. That average included games for both Sporting’s B team and a loan spell with Vitoria Setubal.Given the fanfare which greeted his move to Sporting CP, it’s tempting to view Ryan Gauld’s return to Scotland with Hibs as a young player burned by an experience abroad, returning to his homeland with his tail between his legs.Only in what may well be his final game for the club was Gauld moved back to his now familiar deep role, looking far more comfortable as he made six successful passes into the final third.Hibs fans shouldn’t expect to see the mercurial winger many will remember from Dundee United, but the new Ryan Gauld could be exactly the player they’ve been crying out for.Gauld was just 16 when he burst onto the scene with Dundee United, catching the eye with his low centre of gravity and exquisite technique. Scottish Premiership. With a return to Scotland seemingly imminent, has it all been a waste of time for the player once dubbed our brightest hope?Last season Gauld was loaned out again, this time to fellow Primeira Liga side Aves, but after initially becoming a starter he suffered a hamstring injury and lost his place.Having adapted to a more creative role, the Scotland Under-21 international has struggled with the return to his previous position.