Colin Nish hits back at Easter Road detractors

The 29-year-old was subjected to a barrage of abuse from a seemingly large section of the home support during the 0-0 draw with St Johnstone in Hibs' last run-out nearly three weeks ago.

The former Kilmarnock player was substituted to a loud chorus of jeers following a toothless attacking display from the capital men, with centre-half David Stephens being preferred as a target man.

However, with manager Colin Calderwood afterwards warning supporters their behaviour could have an effect on the whole team, Nish is determined to brush off the catcalls and continue enjoying playing for the club he supported as a boy. And, with competition from fit-again Lithuanian Valdas Trakys for a starting spot at Rugby Park, the tall marksman is hoping to provide the perfect answer to his critics with the winning goal against his former side tomorrow.

Nish, who is one of 16 players out of contract at the end of the season, said: "Of course it was disappointing, it wasn't pleasant at all to hear all that. But I knew what was coming before the game even started and you just have to deal with it.

"I still enjoy pulling on the Hibs strip, going out there to play and do the very best I can for the club I've supported all my life and I am not going to let anyone spoil that for me. I am living the dream of every Hibs fan.

"I am going to enjoy every minute I have as a player here and I know when I do leave then I'll be back at Easter Road at every opportunity to support the team and the club. It's not always easy when your confidence is perhaps a bit low but it is not going to make any difference to me. I will continue to give my all every time I am called upon by the manager.

"I've had it before when I first went to Kilmarnock but I think I managed to turn it around. It's a case of going out there, working your socks off and eventually something will happen. There's nothing better than proving a few people wrong so it would be nice to get the winner at Rugby Park."

Calderwood, meanwhile, welcomed the thaw of Arctic conditions with Hibs poised to take to the field for the first time in three weeks tomorrow.Calderwood takes his team to Kilmarnock this weekend with the squad having yesterday trained outside together at their East Lothian training ground for the first time since the draw with St Johnstone on 27 November.

Calderwood said: "There was a certain amount of excitement - maybe not Christmas Day excitement, but it was just nice to be out in the fresh air."

Snow and ice meant much of the Hibs squad struggled to travel east of Edinburgh to their training base, with facilities at Easter Road well utilised, including for a friendly with Raith Rovers last weekend after the postponement of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Hamilton.

Forwards Darryl Duffy and Merouane Zemmama are among those who may have welcomed the postponements of matches against St Mirren and Accies. Duffy and Zemmama have been out with metatarsal and knee injuries respectively, but joined in training yesterday and could be back in action early in the new year.

With five games in 16 days approaching, Calderwood knows he will need his full squad and he is pleased to have the majority of his players available.

"There's not one player on the treatment table at the minute - everybody trained today, which is almost a unique situation," he added. "Three or four of them are training but it's part of their rehab. The physios didn't have anyone to take into the gym or do any work with - that's a nice situation."

Addressing the prospect of 16 of his players being out of contract at the end of the season, Calderwood added: "When there's an announcement to be made we'll make it, but we won't have an ongoing dialogue to say that we've had a cup of tea and an argument and things are going well. There will be an announcement at the time."