Middlesbrough loanee embraces his role as the midfield rock of Hibernian

In a team with plenty of moving parts, Dan Barlaser is content to play the role of immovable object. A breakwater to protect the defence from waves of opposition attack. And a supplier to teammates who seem to have unearthed the secret to perpetual motion.

- by John Greechan

It's a little more complicated than that, of course. Hibs are benefiting as much from Barlaser's range of passing as they are his defensive positioning at the moment.

But the on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder, who has started the last five consecutive games for David Gray's men, sounds like a man working to a very specific brief. Which is why he's become an ever-present, even as Gray chops and changes some of the other players around him.

"I think I know my job, just to try and sit there and break up play for the more attacking players, and I think they're kind of getting the grips of my game," said Barlaser, the 28-year-old adding: "So I'm really enjoying it.

"With someone like Josh Mulligan, for example, he's very good. Very good-a very talented player. With his running, he's very physical, so I kind of just give him the ball and let him run!

"It's the same with Thibault and the other strikers. We've got so much pace up there, we just have to put it in good areas for them.

"I mean, yeah, even though Thibault's not the biggest guy, he's a big target because of his movement - and he's very good in the air, surprisingly. I couldn't believe it.