Colin Calderwood tips striker Valdas Trakys to prove his worth at Easter Road

The bulky target man was given a starting place in last week's victory over Rangers out of necessity rather than choice, as Colin Nish was injured and Derek Riordan suspended but did enough in that match and in the subsequent win against Motherwell to convince his manager that he is a more able player than many may have given him credit for. "Both games he did terrific," the manager said yesterday.

"Hanging on physically at the end, but I thought he led the line and made a good partnership with Derek.

"Their combination certainly got the second goal (against Motherwell] and they were involved in the first goal as well.

"I'm pleased for him. I think he has been under-valued or hasn't shown his true worth yet. Tactically, he was excellent in both games.

"I think all the boys were pleased he put on two performances that put him in a better light with everybody else, because, like a lot of them, he has been good on the training ground."

Nish is in contention for a place in the team against Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow, and Riordan is also available. But, although Trakys has been given no guarantees about getting a regular start, he has at least given his manager more options up front.

"I think there will be more to come from him the fitter he gets, definitely," Calderwood continued. I didn't really know much about him when I arrived. His workrate was the thing that held him above anything else. That was the greatest thing he did - his workrate for the team."

Defender Francis Dickoh is also available for the journey north, while midfielder David Wotherspoon hopes to train today and may be fit. Although his injury worries are clearing up and results have improved, Calderwood is far too experienced to get carried away.

"The wins haven't really changed too much. It's just a nicer environment and it gives people lifts when you win games. What you've got to do is make a winning run longer.

"How many opportunities do you have in a season to have three games in a row winning? So I think you've got to try and maximise that. That's why, when we go away from home to a team above us, we've got to keep that gap reducing.

"We've got to make sure we come away from Inverness with something.

"I don't look at a two-game segment. I don't think it even contemplates being a run really."

Still, it was significant that, in the second of those wins, Hibs hit back after going a goal behind, suggesting their confidence is not as frail as it clearly was when Calderwood took over.

"We've done it and no doubt we'll have to do it again," he said. "Sometimes you find teams who go behind never take points. That's a far bigger problem."