Craig Cairns looks at how Hibernian striker Jason Cummings has scored his goals this season as Alan Stubbs’ side push for promotion to the Premiership.
Cummings was released from Hearts in 2012 after a serious knee injury hampered his progress and spent a short time with Hutchison Vale before he signed on at Easter Road.
A total of 21 goals last season, including four in five appearances against Rangers endeared him to the Hibernian support. He has maintained that goalscoring form into the current campaign, netting 19 times, each one in separate matches. His first six came at Easter Road, though he has since scored nine goals away from home.
His headed goal in last weekend’s Edinburgh derby was his first this season not to be scored with his lethal left foot. That goal, plus three in four appearances against Rangers, displays his ability to trouble opposition defences and get on the scoresheet in the big games.
The Scotland U21 internationalist also loves a goal against Raith Rovers and has netted in each of the three times he has lined up against them this season.
Always good value in post-match interviews, Cummings takes that bold personality on to the pitch, even when it comes to his finishing under pressure.
The penalty he stuck away in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against St Johnstone was Cummings’ sixth goal in seven cup appearances this season and he has scored just over a third of his side’s 38 league goals.
Even though he, for the most part, is a predatory striker who scores most of his goals in and around the six-yard box, he can also finish from further out - the best example being his arching run and curled effort from outside the box against league leaders Rangers.
