Mowbray to fight for Riordan

Hibernian boss Tony Mowbray has warned the likes of Celtic that they will have to up the ante if they are to stand a chance of landing young star Derek Riordan.

Skysports.com revealed on Wednesday that new Celtic boss Gordon Strachan had lodged a bid for the talented striker's services.

Riordan has just over a year to run on his Easter Road contract and is available for transfer after rejecting a new deal, but Mowbray has warned that the player will not be allowed to slip away in a cut-price deal.

Mowbray rejected the opening gambit out of hand and has insisted they will fight tooth and nail to keep Riordan in the Scottish capital.

"There has been interest in Derek, as you would expect for a young boy who has scored great goals over two seasons," Mowbray told the Daily Record. "He's proved he's no one-season wonder.

"We have had snippets of interest from a couple of clubs.

"They've tried to sound us out and we've talked some sort of figures, but they have been dismissed out of hand."

Strachan is sure to assess other striking options and it is being claimed that Bristol City's Lee Miller, who had a fine loan spell at Hearts, has caught the eye of the diminutive Scot.

The Parkhead club are striving to keep Craig Bellamy in Glasgow, but could move for Miller if the Welshman heads for pastures new rather than turn his loan move at Celtic into a permanent arrangement.