CHRIS Hogg last night spoke of his relief at ending his Ipswich Town nightmare after signing for Tony Mowbray's SPL side Hibernian.The England Under-19 defender has signed a deal with the Easter Road club until the summer of 2007, reuniting him with former Blues' Antonio Murray and Sam Morrow.

By Derek Davis

CHRIS Hogg last night spoke of his relief at ending his Ipswich Town nightmare after signing for Tony Mowbray's SPL side Hibernian.

The England Under-19 defender has signed a deal with the Easter Road club until the summer of 2007, reuniting him with former Blues' Antonio Murray and Sam Morrow.

A delighted Hogg last night told the EADT: “This is a brilliant move for me. Mogga is a legend in Scotland, and is another Boro boy. He was my dad's idol and for me to sign for Hibs is a big honour.”

Hogg is still recovering from a severed artery, which almost cost him his life, after putting his arm through a plate glass window while scaring away car thieves in his home town of Middlesbrough.

The player, who went on his Christmas break weighing 13 stones, has lost 20lbs since the accident and is hoping to get the all-clear to start training again on February 14.

He hopes to be playing first-team football by March, which is more than he ever did for Ipswich, despite costing the Blues £150,000 as a 16-year-old from York City.

All that has given Hogg an extra determination to succeed with Hibs, who are currently third behind Celtic and Rangers and in with a chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Hogg said: “It has been a tough couple of years for me, with one thing and another, but finally I'm looking at light at the end of the tunnel.

“My aim is to be playing in the side for the last couple of months of the season. I know Hibs have a lot of decent players but I have a lot of belief in myself and in my ability to be able to play at that level.”

Mowbray also scooped Northern Irish winger Ivan Sproule, who has agreed an 18-month stay.

Also joining Hibernian is Mali-born striker Amadou Konte, 24, who was at Cambridge United and has signed on until the end of the season.

Londonderry club Institute will receive a small fee for Sproule, who impressed during a week-long trial at Easter Road.

Konte scored three times in nine games for Cambridge but was unhappy at being left out of the starting line-up in recent games.

He arrived in England from Italian Serie C side Paterno Calcio on a free transfer in October, after starting off with French side Strasbourg and has also been at Porto.