Edinburgh is Scotland's most picturesque city and somewhere on a winding cobblestone lane, you might find
Manchester United youngster Will Fish drinking a coffee. Fish is thoroughly enjoying his loan with Hibernian and he unwinds from
Football by exploring Scotland's capital, and spending time with his teammates on the
golf course. "You're spoilt for choice with golf up there, so I've taken advantage of it really," Fish told the Manchester Evening News on a day off during the international break. "We've got a good little golf squad in the team, so it's good to play when we can. I also live by the beach and I'm down there quite often." Fish was quizzed on his golfing ability and he insisted: "I'm actually all right! I'm into single figures with my handicap now." ALSO READ: Alexander Buttner speaks to the MEN about his United career ALSO READ: Loving Casemiro and rejecting City - The inside story of Mainoo's journey The MEN contacted Fish to speak about his loan with Hibernian, his development and what might come next for him. He's a local Manchester lad, born in Denton , and he's been on United's books since he joined the academy when he was just seven. Fish is coming to the end of his second loan with Hibernian and matured during his time in Scotland, learning his trade and playing competitive fixtures each week. "I had a few other options but, to be honest, as soon as I heard Hibs were in for me, I jumped straight on the train," he said about first joining Hibs in September 2022. "I think it was the best decision I could have made. I didn’t really know how big the club was before I went but I soon realised. I didn’t play properly until after
Christmas , but even when I wasn’t playing, I was enjoying it, just being around the squad environment and whatnot. "You get quite a lot of exposure in Scotland, you’re playing the Old Firm three or four times a season and the big Edinburgh derbies are brilliant, so there’s a lot of games on Sky." The atmospheric Easter Road Stadium on Edinburgh derby day is a far cry from Leigh Sports Village where United's Under-21s play. Having made plenty of appearances at Leigh, Fish laughed at the comparison and said: "It’s definitely a few steps ahead of reserve football." Fish re-signed for Hibs on loan last summer. United sources have described Fish as 'very calm and really mature for his age' and the defender admitted that he didn't find it difficult to settle into life in Scotland. "The changing room is really good," Fish said. "I’ve made a few good mates that will probably be my
Friends for life now. Everyone helped me settle in and I’ve got some friends outside of football as well from Edinburgh, so it’s been pretty easy to move north of the border." Fish was forced to wait three months for his first Hibs start, but he grabbed his opportunity with both hands when it arrived and became a mainstay for the rest of the season. By the end of 2022/23, Fish made 21 appearances in all competitions, he'd scored three goals and helped Hibs to qualify for the UEFA Conference League with a fifth-placed league finish. Lee Johnson was the manager responsible for signing Fish and, near the end of the campaign, he said: "Will has been fantastic. I've said before if you could build a centre-half, you'd build Will Fish. He's a great student and a great lad. It's been a big step for him and he's really taken to it." Fish reflected: "I just needed to stick in at the start when I wasn’t playing because I knew I'd eventually get my chance, and obviously you just have to take it when it comes. "Luckily, I’ve played pretty much every game since my first start, so it’s been excellent and you’re going to have ups and downs in football, so it’s just about managing that. "As I said before, the experience I’ve gained with Hibs has made it the best decision I could have made, and that's part of the reason why I went back and played again this season. "Because I only played half the season in my first loan, I wanted to play for them again. Obviously, there was the European factor as well and I wanted to be on that journey." Fish helped Hibs qualify for European competition. Fish returned to United last summer after his initial loan and he played in pre-season games against Leeds, Lyon and Wrexham, but another loan was agreed, just as he wanted. The centre-back had attracted interest from clubs in the Championship and League One, as well as rival clubs in Scotland, including Aberdeen, but he chose to return to Hibs. That has proved to be a great decision. Not only has Fish gained experience playing against the likes of Inter Escaldes, FC Luzern and Aston Villa in European competition, but he's continued to start every game, he's learned again and become a better player overall. Staff at United consider his loan to have been 'very successful due to the volume of games played and against decent level of opposition' and Fish is loving his football. He has thrived under the expectations that playing for Hibs brings. "The Edinburgh derbies have been amazing games, I couldn’t tell you exactly how many I’ve played in, but it’s been quite a few and they’re the games you look forward to when the fixtures come out," he said. "They’re high-pressure, but those are the games you want to be involved in as a footballer. Fair play to both sets of fans because they create a great atmosphere and make it a special day. "In terms of what I've learned, I think for me, especially with the position I play, it was more trying to get the experience of playing against different strikers and when you are under the cosh and have to see out three points, just that little bit of know-how and experience that I needed to add. "That comes with age, but it’s something I’m picking up on each week and trying to do better physically. You play against a lot of big strikers in Scotland, so managing that and I feel like it’s going well." Fish captained a youthful United side against Wrexham in July. (Image: 2023 AMA Sports Photo Agency) Johnson, who signed Fish twice, was sacked shortly after he arrived for his second loan and Hibs appointed Nick Montgomery, who has also been a big supporter of him. "I can’t see anything bad about Lee Johnson," Fish said. "He gave me my debut and the opportunity to make my way in professional football, so I’ll always be grateful for that. "Nick has come in and his style of play, from the first day, was 4-4-2. He’s got his assistant with him who is very tactical and loves that side of the game, and I’ve really enjoyed it. "We’ve changed formation now, but I think they’re two very good coaches. It's been really good and we go into games knowing what we’re going to do with a plan, so that’s all you can ask for." Bruno Fernandes' remarkable record of avoiding injury has been highlighted in Manchester, and Fish has similarly always been available for selection in Edinburgh. Although Fish only celebrated his 21st birthday last month, he's started 39 of a possible 41 games in all competitions and, admirably, he's delivered week in, week out. "I think that’s something that goes a bit under the radar, to go that many matches, it’s physically and mentally tough," he said about his durability this season. "Especially in what you could call my first proper season of professional football. Being available for every game is a massive trait and I think it can take you a long way in your career. It’s just living right and I just enjoy playing for Hibs, so I'll take any chance I can to do that. "I don’t know the maths exactly, but hopefully if I start every game for the rest of the season I can reach 50 starts. If I can get to that, it will be incredible and I can look back with pride." Fish has scored four goals in his two loans with Hibs. United technical director Darren Fletcher has been described as a big part of Fish's loans due to his Scottish connections, while it's understood Les Parry and Danny Keough have managed the day-to-day relationship between both clubs, along with going up to
Scotland to watch games. "Les has come up a few times and he meets me for a coffee and what have you," Fish said. "He’ll call me every now and then and I keep in touch with Fletch on
WhatsApp. "They obviously watch the clips from the games and stuff. To be honest with you, I don’t need much, I can sort of be on my own, but it's really good and I appreciate what they do. "Les will come into the club, speak with the manager and staff, and I’ll go for a coffee with him after training and just talk about life and make sure everything is ok." When asked if he'd spoken to Erik ten Hag last summer before re-signing for Hibs on loan, he said: " Little bits here and there, he’s sort of quite reserved in what he does. I don’t really know what he thinks. I'm just taking it step by step and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be." Almost two years ago, United travelled to
Thailand and Australia for pre-season in Ten Hag's first summer in charge and Fish was drafted in after a withdrawal from Axel Tuanzebe. "I must have got a call at 7.30pm and the next morning I was on a flight to Australia," he said. "They say in football you always have to be ready and I was dropped at the airport at 5am. "I don’t think many 19-year-olds travel to Australia on their own. But I was in first class, so it was ok!" Fish (second back left) with United in Melbourne in July 2022. (Image: 2022 Manchester United FC) Fish was given a new United contract, which expires in 2025 with the option of another year, before receiving the call-up and he was excited to meet up with the squad. It was the kind of opportunity he'd dreamt of and with United leading 3-0 against Crystal Palace in Melbourne, he was substituted on for the final 25 minutes of the game. Unfortunately, Palace played a ball through with just minutes remaining and Fish, who was the last man, denied a goalscoring opportunity by committing a clumsy challenge. He was shown a straight red card and looked devastated as he trudged off the pitch. "At the time, I felt like the whole world was crashing down on me," Fish said. "That’s where I think I’ve learned and grown up because I look back and it doesn’t really matter, do you know what I mean? If that happened now, I’d know how to deal with it differently. "They [the staff and players] knew it didn’t matter but it’s hard to take that on board in the heated moment. But everything happens for a reason, doesn't it? It doesn't bother me now." Fish was asked which senior players had given him pointers and he said: "The last summer gone, Scott [McTominay], Tom [Heaton] and Harry Maguire were really helpful. They’re really good lads, they seemed to help the young lads on a daily basis and I really appreciated that." Fish felt like 'his world was crashing down' when he was sent off. (Image: MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images) Fish was the 240th player to come through United's academy to make his first-team debut. When he was just 17, he was given a cameo by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against Wolves on the final day of the 2020/21
Premier League season, something which he's still immensely proud of. "It's a dream come true, to be honest," he told MUTV after the match with a huge smile on his face, and that grin returned when he was asked about his senior bow. "Even though it was just for a few minutes, it’s something that can never be taken away from me. I’ve got the shirt from that day framed in my mum’s house," Fish said. "It’s a special moment and hopefully I can play in the Premier League again one day. If I remember correctly, I think I went straight to St. George’s Park with
England after that game, so it was FaceTime with my family and they were obviously very proud, so it was a great moment." Fish's performances for Hibs haven't gone unnoticed and he generated interest in the January transfer window, with Cardiff considering a permanent bid for his signature. "I think it was the right thing to stay in January purely because I felt like Hibs was a place I could kick on with my learning again. Touch wood, so far it’s worked out," he said. "I’ve played every game since and there’s no guarantees in football, but especially if you go to a new club in January, you never know where you are in that pecking order. So I'm really glad I stayed, hopefully it works out and we can qualify for European football again." Sources have indicated there's been plenty of interest in taking Fish on loan next season, although it's understood a decision has yet to be made on whether he stays at United. It's obvious when talking to Fish that he doesn't want to play a backup role. He's had a taste of regular senior football with Hibs and his career has blossomed as a result. Fish was asked where he sees himself in 10 years, briefly paused and said: " I’d liked to have racked up a lot of games, whether that be Championship, higher or lower, and then trophies. "Trophies are a big thing and I’d love to win one, or get promoted with a team and just enjoy it, to be honest. It’s not a long career, so I think if you enjoy it as much as you can, you’ll look back once you’ve finished and you’ve got no regrets, then that’s all you can ask for." Fish is hungry to play football. There will be more time to play golf when he retires.