Hibs: Wotherspoon 'ready to impose himself'

Published on Friday 1 April 2011 20:02

Hibs v Hearts Today, Sky Sports 4, Kick-off 12.45pm

One of the joys of football for a fan of any club, as well as neutrals with Scotland's interests at heart, is to see a good young player step up from the youth ranks and take his place in the first XI.

As he prepares to join his Hibs colleagues in taking on Hearts in the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road this afternoon, David Wotherspoon reflected on that journey which he has made, and revealed that a face-to-face talk with manager Colin Calderwood had been instrumental in cementing his place as a regular first-team player.

"The season started off not too bad for me," said Wotherspoon, "then the new manager came in and I got left out a couple of times and I was questioning what was happening. He just said it was his decision, obviously, but he didn't really say much to me.

"In my own head I was sort of questioning it, but I did go and talk to him just to find out a rough idea of what was happening. He sat me down and talked to me one-to-one and it was a good insight into what he was thinking."

Apart from wanting Wotherspoon to play further forward, manager Calderwood had a measure of reassurance for the player.

"He's particularly harsh on himself and he doesn't really need to be," said Calderwood. "He's got a terrific future. I think he could virtually play anywhere in the front six.

"I can see why he has played mostly in the back four, but I like him further up the pitch. It's always a good option to have someone of his attacking capabilities. I like guys who can play in two or three positions."

Talk over, Wotherspoon took action: "I knew myself what I needed to work on and he (Calderwood] pointed to exactly what I thought. I just got on with it and kept training away and eventually I got the break again."

Having turned 21 in January - quietly, at home with his family, as is his wont, Wotherspoon had already worked out for himself one aspect of his game.

"Now is the time for me to a bit more assertive," he said.

"I've been telling myself that. I'm a bit more grown-up now and I need to start thinking of myself as a key figure in the team and start trying to push the team on and try to be a big character.

"I need to be more assertive - I'm not a young kid and I can't get away with the same things any more."

The arrival of Victor Palsson from Liverpool, the robust Icelandic midfielder aged just 19, gave Wotherspoon a jolt.

"Seeing Victor come in made me think," he said. "When he arrived he just didn't think about his age. He just went out there and commanded things like he'd been there for a while.

"When I found out his age it hit me that I needed to push on a bit more."

Wotherspoon has definitely matured physically and the once slight lad is now carrying a tad more muscle, due to weekly sessions in the gym.

"People have said it about me, I have heard a few comments. One of the coaches' sons said ‘the last time I saw him he was a wee bit thinner'. He thought I had put on a bit of weight but hopefully it's just muscle.

"Strengthwise, I need to improve and jumping and winning headers is something I have always wanted to improve, so I will continue with that.

"I've managed to make my way back into the team and I have had a good run in the team so far. I hope to keep that going and keep setting up goals and try and keep scoring goals as well."

One of those goals was in Hibs' last league match against St Johnstone. So how did that late equaliser go down in the Perth lad's family of Saints fans?

"It didn't go down at all well," Wotherspoon admitted ruefully, "but they took it all in good spirit.

"I saw my uncle just a few days after the game and gave him a hug and he said: ‘I'm not sure I should be hugging you'.

"It was a good laugh. Honestly, they were delighted for me scoring on my hometown ground."

So to the Edinburgh derby, in which Wotherspoon has never been on the winning side at either under-19 or senior level. One quality makes him think things will change - renewed confidence.

"There's total belief amongst us, there's a positive attitude," said Wotherspoon. "There was a point where we started thinking ‘we're struggling a bit here' but we all kept our heads up and managed to get this good run and, hopefully, we can continue with that. I really want to enjoy this game and experience a win for a change. I'm sure that the feeling of winning a derby would be fantastic and the boys are all right up for it. I think we can do it. We need to go out there, relax and take the game to Hearts.

"The fans have been there throughout and the 12th man thing has got us really excited about games at Easter Road. They will be in great spirit for this match and it would be a real gift to them if we could win."

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INJURIES/SUSPENSION

Hibs are without the injured Danny Galbraith and Graham Stack. Steven Thicot is doubtful with an ankle knock. Hearts are missing the suspended Adrian Mrowiec and Eggert Jonsson and injuries have ruled out Calum Elliot and Lee Wallace.

BENCHMARK

Traditionally a closely-fought encounter, substitutes could hold the key and both sides have a couple of intriguing strikers in reserve. Hearts have refused to rule out having their talisman Kevin Kyle on the bench. Kyle scored the winner when the sides last met and offers a colossal aerial presence up front. He recently underwent a double hernia operation but has resumed training. Hibs have an ace up in their sleeve in the form of Ricardo Vaz Te, the former Bolton striker who joined in February. A livewire striker with bags of skill, the Portuguese is still lacking match fitness.

FORM GUIDE

Hearts are 12 points clear in third place but their form has shaded since they beat both halves of the Old Firm at Tynecastle during a spectacular mid-season run which saw them take 31 points from a possible 33. They've taken just 13 points out of 27 from their last nine games. Hibs flirted with relegation in the first half of the season and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Ayr but have been bolstered by new signings and have taken 16 points from 18 in their last six games. Nevertheless, they trail Hearts by 26 points in ninth place.

KEY CLASH

Victor Palsson v Ian Black

Palsson, Hibs' mid-season signing from Liverpool, has added presence and guile in the heart of the Hibs midfield. The Finn will be up against the combative Black for the first time. The Hearts man was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Ian Murray in the last derby but bounced back to play a key role.

THE MANAGERS

Jim Jefferies has had the Midas touch in derbies since returning to Tynecastle, winning four out of four. Colin Calderwood has lost both derbies he has been in charge for, but has signed half-a-dozen new players since the New Year's Day defeat at Tynecastle.

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