Mcmanus says older heads can ensure Hibs’ young stars rise to the challenge
Making the breakthrough is the easy part, sustaining firstteam relevance has always been the tougher test, according to Tam Mcmanus.
The former Hibernian striker, who will work as a pundit for Hibernian TV this season, remembers coming through the ranks at the Easter Road club and how quickly the initial excitement was replaced by the need to deliver.
Which is why he recognises the value of experienced professionals who can ensure newcomers and breakthrough stars are ready for the challenges coming their way. “I came through with John Hughes and big Yogi certainly didn’t mollycoddle you,” he recalls. “I was terrified if I was playing against him in training because he would batter you and if he was on your team, if you made a bad pass, he would be on your back. He would tell me and the other inexperienced boys ‘if you can’t handle me shouting at you in training, how are you going to handle 15,000 on your back if you miss a chance or make a bad pass during a game?’ It was character building.”
As well as youngsters such as Ryan Porteous, Jamie Gullan and Sean Mackie, who have all had first-team action, new signing Kevin Nisbet will have to prove himself at Premiership level, while Drey Wright and Alex Gogic will be scrutinised to see if they can settle in quicker than last summer’s recruits seemed to.
Which is why it is the players who have been there and done it before for Hibs, who could determine the season’s fortunes, according to Mcmanus.
“Usually the dressing room is only as good as the experienced players. Hibs have got the likes of Scott Allan, Darren Mcgregor, David Gray,” he said. They also have Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson.
“The young boys will follow their example. They are great professionals and I know how important that is. I had Mixu [Paatelainen] and guys like Matthias Jack, Franck Sauzee. You look up to these guys and Mixu and Craig Brewster were great to learn from; the way they trained, even in their 30s, and the way they looked after themselves and recovered after games. You need players to look up to and Hibs have got a good core in there and I’m sure they will help the younger boys.
“The most important thing now for the likes of Jamie Gullan is that whatever opportunities he gets, he has to take them, When I came through it was Mixu and David Zitelli and I had to try to nick their spot. That means you have to impress every day in training. They won’t give up their place easily.”