David Wotherspoon not living on past glories

A YEAR ago, David Wotherspoon was the new kid on the block, a virtual unknown as he became one of seven youngsters to be promoted to the Hibs first-team squad having enjoyed an unprecedented league and cup double at Under-19 level.

Little was expected of him, and the young midfielder himself looked forward to the season with the hope of claiming a seat on the bench and perhaps getting a little bit of game time here and there.

Instead, he found himself thrown in at the deep end by boss John Hughes, enjoying a memorable debut as he scored a vital equaliser as Hibs fought back from a goal down to beat St Mirren on the opening day of the new campaign, a result which was to help pave the way for a fourth-place finish in the SPL and with it European football.

And from being someone even the most die-hard Hibs fan would probably have passed in the street without recognising, Wotherspoon became one of the most-talked about young talents in Scotland, playing virtually every match until Hibs finally clinched their Europa League place with a 2-0 victory over Scottish Cup winners Dundee United on the final day of the league season.

Today, though, Wotherspoon, 20, has consigned all those memories to the history books, well aware of the danger of what is described as "second season syndrome," the threat of teams or individuals failing to live up to the expectations raised by events of the past.

He said: "It's a clean slate as far as I am concerned although I had a great season last season. This year is going to be tougher for me because people won't be looking on me as one of the young boys any more but as part of the team and for me to produce the goods.

"The element of surprise has also gone. At the start of last season, people didn't really know me that well and for my part I didn't expect much more than being on the bench and hopefully sometime on the pitch.

"But I had a great debut with that goal, kept my place and really enjoyed it. Now I am looking forward to the new season and hoping the gaffer keeps me in there."

Hughes has already made it clear he'll be looking for more from the Perth-born youngster but Wotherspoon insisted he has no problem with his manager placing extra demands on his shoulders, saying: "It's a fair point, I'm no longer on the fringes of things but right in there among the first-team squad. I have to push myself on again, to produce the goods I know I can and the gaffer knows I can. Last season was a long, long season and it did take its toll towards the end. I have to admit it was harder than I expected because I only thought I'd get a game here or there.

"Instead, it was non-stop, training every day and playing week in, week out. It was tough, but I really enjoyed it and I am hoping to do the same again."

What made Wotherspoon's first season all the more remarkable was that he was pressed into service as a makeshift right-back, a problem position which Hughes now hopes to have filled with the acquisition of former Livingston, Aberdeen and Preston North End star Michael Hart.

The conclusion from that piece of business is that Wotherspoon will be deployed further forward into more familiar territory but, the youngster claimed, he has no argument regardless of where he is asked to play.

He said: "I am quite happy to play where the gaffer wants. Playing different positions is good for me, learning different roles. In pre-season so far I've played left wing, central midfield and right-back.

"It's great experience, getting to know how to play these positions, understanding the game and knowing where you want to be, where you want to go, where the other players are round about you so you can work as a team."

As such, Wotherspoon sees Hibs' forthcoming Europa League adventure - they'll play either Hungarian outfit Videoton or Maribor from Slovenia - as opportunities to further his football education in exactly the same way he sees the Easter Road club's four-match tour of Holland which continues tonight against Ado Den Haag.

He said: "It's a big step for me, particularly when you remember I was playing Under-19 football little more than a year ago, and it is a big step for the team, but one we are all looking forward to.

"We were all looking out for the draw and whether it is Videoton or Maribor we eventually end up facing, it will be a different style of football to enjoy.

"I've gone abroad with Scotland at different age groups, playing in various countries and it is all a great experience, The style of play is different, it's a different lifestyle but you can always learn something.

"I've played for Scotland's Under-19 side against the Dutch before, the way they play is great to watch and we have to hope we can take that on a bit and bring it into our own game. Playing four Eredivisie sides in ten days is great preparation ahead of the Europa League.

"Again that will be good experience for us all and, obviously, we are hoping we'll enjoy more than one round and, hopefully, even make it to the group stages."

The second leg of Hibs' third qualifying round will be the first in front of the new East Stand at Easter Road, the final piece in the reconstruction of the Leith ground taking capacity to 20,250 and, while it may not be completed by the date of that match, 5 August, Wotherspoon is dreaming of a night to remember.

He said: "I live right next to the ground so I have been watching it go up - and it has gone up pretty quickly. It looks tremendous and if it isn't quite ready for the European match then, hopefully, it will be for our first home game in the SPL against Rangers."