HANLON IS EAGER TO PUT BRAKES ON FAMILIAR FOE GRIFFITHS
Hibs captain and pal Stevenson out to stop Griffiths
LEWIS STEVENSON and Leigh Griffiths have been near-constant figures throughout Paul Hanlon’s career. In Stevenson, the Hibs captain has a firm friend and reliable colleague who is set to pass another milestone if selected to make his 500th appearance for the club against Celtic tomorrow night.
In direct opposition will be Griffiths, a one-time Easter Road team-mate and a regular opponent since their days cutting their teeth in boys football around the playing fields of Edinburgh.
The two could hardly be more different. Stevenson, the ultimate one-club man and consummate professional has never given a minute’s grief to any of the 11 managers he has served since making his debut in 2005.
Griffiths, on the other hand, is one of Scottish football’s maverick characters who combines goalscoring brilliance with a tendency for self-sabotage.
Hanlon has plenty of time for both but it’s with Stevenson that he shares the strongest bond.
‘Lewis has been a joy to work with all through my Hibs career,’ says Hanlon. ‘He’s a couple of years older and when I first came in at 16, he was the first to welcome me.
‘He has always been someone I’ve looked up to. Most of his career has been spent at left-back, while I’ve been at left-sided centre half, so we’ve had to work together.’
Griffiths spent a couple of seasons at Hibs on loan from Wolves, claiming the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award in year two.
Yet questions have persisted about his attitude, most recently when he was left out of Celtic’s preseason trip to Lyon last summer due to his poor physical condition.
As ever, Griffiths has managed to work his way back into the good books of his manager and has belatedly resumed the partnership with Odsonne Edouard that burst into life this time last year.
Hanlon knows he will need to be on his toes tomorrow evening.
‘I have played against Leigh since we were about five or six years old,’ smiles Hanlon. ‘He’s been an outstanding striker and I think he was a loss to Celtic when he was out. He’s been back in the team and they’ve been a lot better for it.
‘He has an unbelievable left foot, a wand. It is easy to be well aware of that and a lot harder to stop it.
‘Obviously, he did well at Hibs when we got the ball to him but when you play for a club like Celtic, you get a few more chances.
‘I will be well aware of him and try to close him down as quickly as possible.’
As things stand, Stevenson is the only Hibs player to have claimed a winner’s medal in both of Scotland’s major cup competitions, courtesy of his breakthrough in advance of the 2007 League Cup final.
With a Betfred semi-final against St Johnstone looming in a fortnight and both halves of the Old Firm already out, Hanlon knows there is an opportunity for himself and one or two fellow survivors from the 2016 Scottish Cup-winning team to join his pal in that exclusive group.
‘Lewis’s record speaks for itself, in terms of what he’s done for this club and the trophies he’s won.
‘There’s no-one that matches him and that says it’s all, really.’
Whether Stevenson starts tomorrow will be a question exercising Jack Ross.
The manager recalled Josh Doig to play left-back against Rangers at Ibrox on Boxing Day and the teenager was successful in putting James Tavernier on the back foot.
Stevenson brings a different skill-set to the position and will face a different kind of opponent in Jeremie Frimpong tomorrow.
Regardless of whether he plays in this match, Hanlon sees plenty mileage left in the 33-year-old.
‘It’s happened so many times in Lewis’ Hibs career that players have come in to challenge his position.
‘Each time, he’s worked hard and stayed in the team and that’s why he is going to reach such an amazing landmark.
‘He knows himself, he’s getting a bit older and there are younger players coming through. But he’s the first one to turn round and help those younger guys.
‘It just shows you what a great guy he is, so selfless in everything he does. He deserves the plaudits if he gets to that 500 mark.
‘I’m sure the club would be interested in giving him a new contract. I think he’s got plenty left in his legs to be able to perform for another few years yet.’