By Graeme Bryce, 11/10/2008
JOHN ROBERTSON believes comeback king Derek Riordan will beat his own incredible scoring record in Edinburgh derbies.

Deadly Robbo was dubbed “The Hammer of Hibs” for his knack of scoring crucial goals against Hearts’ bitter rivals as he established the Tynecastle club as kings of the Capital.

In 52 Edinburgh derbies, Robertson hit an astonishing 27 goals to average more than a goal every two games.

Now Robbo looks across the city at a revitalised Riordan and can see the same desire and hunger as the deadly striker puts an unhappy two-year-stint at Celtic behind him ahead of next week’s derby crunch.

Robertson said: “This is the moment he will have been looking forward to ever since he decided to return to his first love, Hibs. It’s the red-letter day for a dyed-in-the-wool Hibee like Derek.

“The first thing he’ll have done once he signed for Hibs was take a look at the fixture list and work out when he could get at Hearts!

“I know I did when I came back from Newcastle to rejoin Hearts — I couldn’t wait for the first Edinburgh derby.

“He’s going to lap it up next Sunday when he walks out at Easter Road to line up against Csaba Laszlo’s side. This is the type of game Derek lives for, the big stage Celtic rarely gave him.

“I really don’t know what happened at Parkhead or why Gordon Strachan never used Derek more often. It’s a total mystery to me.

“It looked like a marriage made in heaven when Gordon signed him. I thought Celtic was the perfect club to bring out the best in a flair player like Riordan.

He could haunt Hearts for years to come

“His ability and attacking credentials seemed tailor-made for Strachan’s Celtic.

“I look at Aiden McGeady and how important he is to the Celtic style and I look at the impact Shaun Maloney has made since he returned and I’m left scratching my head.

“Derek has the same level of ability as these boys and I assumed he’d fit in given their attacking philosophy.

“But for some reason, it just didn’t work out and perhaps only Gordon really knows why.

“The most disappointing thing about Derek’s time there was how few really big games he featured in because if there is one thing I know about Derek it’s that he’s a big-game player.

“Yet he only came on as a late sub for Evander Sno and McGeady in two Old Firm games and that was it — 20 minutes of Old Firm action in two years.

“That’s why he’ll be desperate to show what he can do at Easter Road with the eyes of Scotland on him.

“I know a lot of Celtic fans and not one of them has a bad word to say about Derek. The general opinion is he was never given a chance to show what he could do there, yet what they did see of him, they liked.

“I have to agree with them. I think he is a terrific player and he could haunt Hearts for years to come if he stays at Hibs.

“I’m very proud of the fact I scored 27 goals in 52 Edinburgh derbies. But I look at Derek and I see someone capable of smashing that record.

“I think he scored around 60 goals in just over three years at Hibs and his record in the Edinburgh derbies is five goals from 12 games. The Hibs fans will be hoping and expecting him to carry on that ratio and even improve on it.

“There’s no doubt Derek has the goals in him to challenge my tally — I just hope the Hearts defence stays resolute over the next 10 years!”

Robbo was at Pittodrie last week to see Riordan smash a double to dump Aberdeen, but he believes he is still short of his best form.

He said: “Derek has not played much in the past two seasons and has still to gain full match sharpness.

I suspect the excitement levels will be up for this one

“But in every game he’s played since he returned, he has changed the match.

“And I don’t think he’ll have a problem on Sunday — he’ll be running on pure adrenalin.

“I could watch him all day. He has a good level of skill, can use both feet, has great vision and he knows the way to goal.

“He’ll be so pumped up for this game because his brothers are Hibs fans, the rest of his family are Hibs fans, all his mates are Hibs fans.

“Coming from Edinburgh is a big factor in this game. When I played both teams were packed full of Edinburgh boys.

“Over the years we had the likes of Ian Westwater, Gary Mackay, Davie Bowman, Scott Crabbe, Alan McLaren and Gary Locke. Hibs had Gordon Hunter, Willie Miller, Paul Kane, Callum Milne, Keith Wright and Mickey Weir.

“We were all local boys who knew what the derby meant to our fans and to our families.

“I sometimes wonder if the influx of foreign players has watered down the passion.

“But I suspect the excitement levels will be up for this one as it will be a massive result for the winners.

“Hearts got off to a good start but have slipped recently. A win at Easter Road would put them back on the rails and give them fresh momentum.

“Lose and serious questions will be asked about where the club is heading again. Hibs made a poor start, yet are on the same points as Kilmarnock, who’ve been praised for being outstanding so far!

“A Hibs win would see them installed with Dundee United, as favourites to finish third and take the UEFA Cup place.

“It’s a massive game for both teams and could have a huge bearing on the season.”