Paul Hanlon will not take Hibs berth lightly

By DAVID HARDIE
Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012 12:02

Paul HANLON has started more matches than any other Hibs player this season, but today the Easter Road star insisted he has no guarantee he’ll walk straight back into boss Pat Fenlon’s side for Sunday’s clash with SPL leaders Celtic.

The Scotland Under-21 skipper was forced to sit out the no-scoring draw against Aberdeen through suspension along with loan signing James McPake, with whom he’d formed such a formidable partnership in the 1-0 William Hill Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock the previous week. Their absence forced Fenlon into a major reshuffle of his back four with only Pa Kujabi remaining in place as Matt Doherty joined the recalled Sean O’Hanlon in the middle, while George Francomb took over at right back.

Nevertheless, the reshaped defence helped clock up a second successive clean sheet, the first time Hibs had achieved such a feat in almost a year leaving Fenlon with a pleasant headache as both Hanlon and McPake, sent off on his debut at Ibrox, are now available again as is striker Leigh Griffiths who has completed a three-match ban,

Hanlon, however, today declared he was taking nothing for granted, despite having been the only player to have played every minute of every game until illness forced him out of the Boxing Day match against Inverness Caley.

The 22-year-old, who has started 28 of Hibs 30 matches, said: “It was a totally different defence to the week before but credit to the lads for coming in and keeping another clean sheet.

“There’s a lot of competition for places, not just at the back, so everyone needs to keep their performances up when they do play if they want to stay in the team.”

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Talking Sense

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:15 PM

John Hughes and John Collins back in football at Livingston. Good luck to them both, I can see Livingston heading for the SPL next season. Message to John Hughes - 'dont sign Paddy Crerar or McBride'. Message to John Collins - 'dont look for Brian Kerr the irish rocket'.

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The Yak Farmer

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:39 PM

It seems that Fenlon is doing things the right way round. He's brought in his own players, to replace the failures brought in by the previous managers and he's addressed the defensive frailties first and foremost to give us a platform to build on. GGTTH

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The beef smoker

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:53 PM

of course

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3

The Daddy

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:37 PM

2 do you like to smoke beef ?

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2

The beef smoker

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:27 PM

Spot on Hannon, playing alongside McPake, Doherty ect will bring him on and that can only be a positive thing for the lad. He is still young and gaining in experience and confidence. Onwards and upwards with unity my Hibby brothers.

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Hannon

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Hope TOTT reads this as he tried to say that Hanlon was not a regular this season during a debate on academy players from both Edinburgh clubs. Not like him to be wrong, in his eyes,but article proves him wrong again in Hibs matters.On the article itself now that we have strengthened back division I expect to see further development from Hanlon as playing next to the likes of McPake and Doherty can only bring him on and make a very good young defender with big potential even better. Onwards and upwards for Paul and the Hi-bees.

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