Former Carlisle midfielder Tom Taiwo set to sign a deal with Hibernian

Hibernian are set to sign English midfielder Tom Taiwo on a two year contract, adding the player to Pat Fenlon's squad.

Taiwo, who had been linked with the Easter Road club during the summer, was a free agent after leaving Carlisle United in June.

The former England Under-17 international has been given squad number 20 by Hibs.

Fenlon, who is finalising the paperwork for Taiwo this week, said: "We felt we were a little bit light in midfield. When Lewis Stevenson got injured we went into games with Gary Deegan and Jorge Claros and nobody on the bench that could play in a central midfield position.

"We wanted to bring in someone in that position, but we also wanted to bring in someone that can improve us. We also want competition within the club.

"He's good on the ball. He gets it and he moves things quickly and keeps it simple. He has a fantastic attitude and we're delighted to get him in.

"He hasn't done loads of training. It will probably be a week to ten days before we consider him to be fit enough to get involved."

Taiwo began his career at Leeds United and, along with team-mate Michael Woods, controversially moved to Chelsea as a teenager with the Blues paying Leeds £5m in compensation for the pair.

The midfielder did not make the breakthrough at Chelsea and after a successful loan spell at Carlisle he moved north on a permanent deal, going on to make over 90 appearances for the Cumbrians.

Taiwo's deal ended in the summer and Carlisle were keen to agree an extended stay at Brunton Park but United manager Greg Abbott said that the player intended to return south for family reasons.

VIDEO: Pat Fenlon looks ahead to Hibernian v Kilmarnock

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