Caldo sure Hibs have talent in abundance

COLIN CALDERWOOD admits he has already seen differences between the SPL and the English leagues - but insisted that any of his squad could hold their own south of the Border.

The former Newcastle United No.?2 was unveiled as John Hughes' replacement as Hibs manager on Monday night and has quickly set about familiarising himself with the players he has available and their capabilities.

He has been delighted by the reaction from the Hibs players since his first session on Tuesday morning and is hoping that kind of response will continue in the long term.

Calderwood said: "They look like a winning lot and want to take on board what the coaching staff are saying, although you're going to have a good reaction when you've got a new manager, obviously.

While conceding that there are areas in which the English leagues have a higher standard, he insisted that the SPL is head and shoulders above when it comes to attitude and application from his squad.

"In some areas there is a gap but in other areas, we are better than them. Anyone in Scotland could go and play in the Premiership, that's for sure.

"It is very hard to pinpoint it, the application in training has been first-class and if that continues throughout the season then that will be a good factor in developing the team."

Calderwood has inherited Chris Hogg as his club captain and Ian Murray as his vice-captain and hinted that he is happy to leave things that way for the time being, adding: "I will analyse everything a wee bit and bed it down, I don't think it is right to come in and completely change what is predominantly a good environment for people to develop and the team to get good results."

While Calderwood was due to be pitched straight into action against Aberdeen today, he will spend the next few weeks travelling around matches in Scotland to gen up on Hibs' opposition. He plans on taking in matches on television, as well as studying video analysis and travelling to games across the country where possible to make sure that he is as prepared as possible for the remainder of the league campaign: "You can do it with a bit of video work but any game that is outwith the day that we are playing would probably be appropriate for me to be at as much as possible.

"I think that it is just a case of getting round and seeing them once to start with, that gives you a first impression but what I have in my favour here is that I have been fantastically assisted by Gareth Evans and Alistair Stevenson.

"Their knowledge - and the players' knowledge - of the opposition, has been invaluable in terms of helping me get to the level that I want to get to."

Calderwood knows that Hibs have leaked too many goals in recent weeks and that has been his first starting point in training this week, although he insists that is nothing to do with the fact that is where he used to play himself. The former Spurs defender stressed: "It is not because I was a defender as a player, it is just that I have ended up on the coaching side.

"There are two sides, with and without the ball, and trying to score and stop goals against.

"Whatever happens, you can end up in trends and those mistakes can lead to an extra concentration at certain points.

"We will concede goals this season, of course, but what we have to try to do is not allow that to be a continuing trend because if you keep making the same mistakes that is just foolish." Calderwood revealed that his mobile phone has been red-hot since accepting the Hibs manager's job at the beginning of the week and continued: "The boys at Newcastle are about the only boys who I have really been in contact with.

"I have had a lot of text messages and phone calls from people who are really pleased and delighted, that supercedes anything else. And people of great gravitas have also called and left messages, so that really just reinforces what I thought.

"This is a great move and a great opportunity for myself."

Calderwood revealed that one man he has not spoken to yet is former Hibs boss Hughes but is hoping to have the opportunity to meet with him or speak to him in the near future.

"I am sure that we will come across one another at some point. I haven't met him too often, but I know about his previous record and also what he did at the start of last season, that was just terrific."

Calderwood never played the game professionally north of the Border but is delighted to have the chance to turn his hand to management in the country of his birth, although he admitted that the thought of returning ‘home' hadn't entered his mind until being offered the Hibs job: "It was never really at the forefront of my mind because I have always been employed in England, whether playing or coaching.

"But, being Scottish and having the experience of playing for Scotland has put me at the forefront of Hibernian's mind and given me the opportunity to do this."

"Anyone in Scotland could go and play in the Premiership, that's for sure"

COLIN CALDERWOOD