HIBERNIAN boss Alan Stubbs admits signing Worcester striker Jamie Insall is “a gamble” but he’s convinced it is one that will pay off.

Insall clinched a three-year deal after a month-long trial with the Edinburgh outfit as they plucked him from Stourbridge, who had only just signed the forward after prolific spells at Bromyard Town and Littleton.

But Stubbs pointed to the example of Jamie Vardy, who has risen from non-league football to Barclays Premier League club Leicester City and the England squad, as proof there are hidden talents to be found.

The Scottish Championship club’s head coach and former Everton defender said: “It would be fantastic if something like that could happen to Jamie but we just feel we’ve seen something there we can work on. He has a few edges, which need polishing.

“He is a work in progress. We’re going to get a lot of work in and spend a bit of time with him but he is a bit different to our other strikers.”

Insall will initially play for Hibs development squad as he “gets up to speed” working on his fitness as a full-time professional but Stubbs has no doubts as to the pacy 23-year-old’s determination to make the best of an unexpected opportunity.

He said: “At the end of the three years we will see if we have found a wee gem or if it’s an opportunity that’s not necessarily worked out the way we would have thought.

“Jamie obviously knows where the goal is, he has a great attitude and is very enthusiastic. There are obviously bits of his game we need to help him with but he’s anxious to give himself the best chance to improve and get better.

“I’m quietly optimistic about him. It’s a gamble but not in a bad way. You only have to look at Vardy at Leicester.”

Stubbs, who picked Insall up at Waverley Railway Station at 11pm as he arrived for a trial match, revealed the new signing had taken the move in his stride.

He continued: “It has a nice feel to it. He’s the sort of kid you want to do well.

“Everyone has taken to him. He has a smile on his face, is very humble and very appreciative of the opportunity we have given him and that’s nice to see.”

Stubbs added: “We made a small payment to Stourbridge although we were under no obligation to do so.

“We always try to do things the right way. Stourbridge were very good with us, very open, very professional and that was the least we felt we could have done to help them out.”

Insall has also played across Worcestershire and Herefordshire for the likes of Stourport Swifts, Redditch United, Pershore Town, Westfields and Worcester Raiders.