Hibs sign Stoke City midfielder Tom Soares on loan

Last updated : 23 January 2012 By Steve Forbes

Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has snapped up his second loan singing of the day this evening, with the capture of Stoke City midfielder Tom Soares.

The Hibees already snapped up Coventry City defender James McPake earlier today.

Soares, 25, is an attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wing, and joins the Hibees on loan until the end of the season.

The England U21 international played over 150 games for Crystal Palace, before singing for Stoke City in a £1.25m deal in 2008.

He has only managed a handful of games for the Premiership side in that time, but he has had loan spells with both Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic, and has played over 200 games in his career.

Soares has been capped 4 times for England U21, and should add an attacking threat to the Easter Road midfield that has been sorely missing in the last year.

Speaking to the official club website, Soares said:

"I've been impressed with what I've seen at Hibs so far and now I want to repay the manager's faith in me by delivering some performances in the team.

"I've settled in quickly and I'll be ready for Rangers, if selected by the manager.

"I'm really hungry to get my career back on track and to show the Hibs fans what I'm all about."

Soares, who is a free agent this summer, should go straight into the squad for Saturday’s trip to Ibrox to face Rangers.