David ready to go whole Hogg with Hibees

What has happened to Hogg since he was tempted by Tony Mowbray to turn his back on Ipswich Town and relocate to Edinburgh has been well chronicled. Now Hibs new boy Stephens has his fingers crossed history will repeat itself after his decision to quit Norwich City and throw in his lot with John Hughes' squad. And should the 18-year-old ever need a word of reassurance should he be struck by the slightest doubt, then he doesn't have far to go with club skipper Chris Hogg his room-mate for the duration of Hibs' ten-day tour of Holland.

You could say it's been a shrewd move on Hughes' part, the pair having more than a little in common, the starting point being the early part of their careers in East Anglia. But, perhaps there is also a subtle message for Stephens, Hogg's rise from an unknown teenager to club captain and now the longest-serving player at Easter Road if you ignore the fact Ian Murray and Derek Riordan are both in their second spells at the club.

Stephens virtually acknowledges as much, saying: "I've been speaking to Chris a lot, about football, the club and other things. He's told me how he came up here with no-one really knowing anything about him.

"But he's been a good professional, he's worked hard and established himself not only in the team but as captain."

While Hogg was obviously known to Mowbray thanks to his work at a coach at Portman Road, Stephens, a Welsh Under-19 cap thanks to his mother Dianne, admitted to being surprised to discover Hughes was on his trail having spotted the 6ft 4in centre half playing in a pre-season friendly against Raith Rovers at Stark's Park last summer.

He said: "I was totally unaware of Hibs' interest. I can only assume that the manager has either come to see me play over the past year or had me watched by others because I wouldn't think he'd be looking to sign me on the basis of one game.

"It was a big decision for me, at the age of 18 and having been at Norwich for four years. I come from Hertfordshire, just north of London, and the distance thing was another factor but, as a football player, you have to become used to moving on and meeting new team-mates, it's part and parcel of the game.

"It was also going to be hard to get a game at Norwich, I think I'd still have been in the reserves and they've pulled out of the reserve league."

Stephens revealed a tour of Hibs' 5 million state-of-the-art training centre at East Mains, a chat with chief executive Scott Lindsay and a meeting with Hughes convinced him he was doing the right thing in uprooting himself from East Anglia.

He said: "The facilities at the training centre are first-class, everything a player could ever want. Mr Lindsay rattled off a long list of young players who have come through to enjoy fantastic careers at Hibs, Scott Brown, Steven Fletcher, Garry O'Connor, Steven Whittaker, Derek Riordan, Kevin Thomson - the lot of them.

"Then I met the manager and was totally convinced."

Hughes' faith in Stephens has been illustrated by the fact he has gone straight into the first- team squad, featuring in each of the three matches so far in the Netherlands and now looking forward to his first taste of Europe with the first leg of Hibs Europa League third qualifying round against Maribor less than a week away.

He said: "It's a strange way to be starting a season, to be playing in Europe before the league has got underway but it is an exciting time for everyone at the club and we've been working hard over here to make sure we are ready for it. The confidence the manager has shown in me so far has been terrific but now it is up to me to keep working hard, doing the right things and progress as much as I can."

As he chatted during a round of pitch-and-putt at the Parpendal sports complex on the outskirts of Arnhem which Hibs are sharing with Plymouth Argyle, Turkish club Sivasspor and the Dutch Youth Olympic team, Stephens only had to point to his playing partner, David Wotherspoon, as proof of the possibilities which now present themselves to him.

He said: "I'm well aware of just what David did last year. To come into the first team at 19 and play so many matches is inspiring. I've already trained and played with him and he is going to be a great player - but he is not alone. I played alongside Paul Hanlon, who is only 20, against Ado Den Haag the other night and, again, he's another who has a highly promising career ahead of him."

Stephens is the first to admit he's not overly familiar with the SPL but he revealed he's been swotting away to build up his knowledge as quickly as possible. He said: "I know it is physical and demanding, that every game is a must win. I know Ian Murray from his short spell with Norwich and he remembers me while I also played with Stephen Hughes, the former Rangers and Motherwell midfielder, at Carrow Road. But the great thing here is I've been made very welcome. I think I am the youngest in the squad but you aren't treated differently because of your age. At meal-times you can sit with anyone and enjoy the good- natured banter.

"We've been working very hard in Holland, building towards what promises to be a very exciting start to the season. I've never been involved in Europe before although I know I am not even guaranteed a seat on the bench next week while our first home game is going to be against Rangers.

"Again, that's a game to look forward to. I've had a look round Easter Road and it would be nice to think that new East Stand will be complete by then and packed with Hibs supporters. I've also never been involved in matches at grounds with 50,000 and more supporters so visits to Celtic Park and Ibrox are also going to be something to look forward to."