Ex-Hibs keeper McNeil realistic about return to old stomping ground

The Third Division strugglers are the visitors to Easter Road in the fifth round and the last time the two sides met in cup competition was back in 2003 when Hibs ran out 9-0 victors and McNeil fully expects John Hughes' men to book their place in the next round this time, too.

However, McNeil, who was released by Hibs last year after three years on their books, including playing in the Easter Road side's 5-1 League Cup final win over Kilmarnock at Hampden three years ago, sees the match as a massive opportunity for him and the rest of his team-mates to not only experience what it's like to face top quality opposition in front of thousands of supporters, but also prove that they can lift their game to a different level.

He said: "It will be an experience for our players and a chance to play at a different level but, realistically, if Hibs apply themselves properly, which I am sure they will, we shouldn't stand a chance.

"We're not going to worry too much about what John Hughes is going to do and whether he will play four up front or one, because even if he only has a single striker you would probably still expect them to score.

"We know that we're up against it, I mean, you only have to look at a player like Anthony Stokes who earns more in a week than our players would earn altogether in a month.

"If you put it into that kind of context, we shouldn't really get a kick of the ball, it should be damage limitation to be honest. I am not trying to be pessimistic, I am just being honest and I think that the game will simply be good experience for the boys to play in it."

McNeil, who found himself out of the team at Easter Road during season 2008/09 when Yves Ma-Kalambay claimed the gloves, has a deal to keep him at Montrose until the end of the season and is just delighted to be back playing regular football.

He made appearances for Shamrock Rovers, Livingston and Clyde before joining up with manager Steven Tweed at Links Park and feels he is on a steep learning curve.

He's hoping that shows at Easter Road on Saturday and added: "I am just happy to be playing and learning, getting a game week-in, week-out, which I wasn't able to do in the last couple of years that I had at Hibs.

"If you're sitting on the bench or in the stand then you're not learning much, so getting a match every weekend is really invaluable.

"It will be good to go back there because I have still got a lot of good friends at the club.

"There's always that added edge when you go back to face your old club, especially if you have been released, and obviously I would love to do well against them.

"Football seems to work out that way, it seems to throw up these kind of games but I don't hold any grudges and there have been a lot of changes since I was playing there."