HIBS VETERAN HASN’T LOST HIS YOUTHFUL VIGOUR

HIBS veteran Lewis Stevenson insists he remains as fit, strong and sharp as he was during his 20s. The 35-year-old — a one-club man who sits fourth on the Easter Road side’s alltime appearance list — this week signed a one-year contract extension keeping him in Leith for another season. Stevenson acknowledges he is nearing the end of his career but the marauding wing-back has no plans to take his foot off the gas and is fully focused on continuing to improve aspects of his game under boss Lee Johnson. ‘The manager has spoken to me quite honestly about the things he needs me to improve on, and that’s what you need,’ said the defender, part of a Hibs team who play third-place Aberdeen at Pittodrie today. ‘He’s not asking me to be a different player, it’s just little tweaks in my game, and I’ve been trying to do that. ‘Even at my age, you can still learn things. I’ve learned from every manager I’ve had here. I’m maybe a slightly different player now but I do feel I’m as good a player as I was ten years ago. Niggle-wise, I feel as good as I ever have. About eight years ago, I was playing with Achilles, groin and calf problems but I honestly don’t really have those anymore. ‘I’m sure there are things I could have done ten years ago that I can’t do now but, vice-versa, I know the game a lot better now and there are things I’ve improved. I feel good just now but I understand it could hit me like a tonne of bricks at some point, so we’ll see how long I keep going.’ Stevenson (pictured), who made his debut in 2005, feared his long Hibs career was drifting to an end when he played second fiddle to Marijan Cabraja in the early months of Johnson’s reign, but the veteran has firmly re-established himself as a regular starter. He added: ‘There were times this season, even quite recently, when I thought it might have been the end of my time here. But I’ve managed to bite down on the gum shield and grind it out.’