Byrne says Hibs are right to stick with experienced team

Kurtis BYRNE today insisted Colin Calderwood has been right to resist calls to place Hibs' fate in the hands of the Easter Road kids.

Byrne is just one of three highly-rated youngsters to have returned to the club following spells on loan, rejoining Calderwood's squad to find Hibs embroiled in a battle against relegation. The Republic of Ireland striker, defender Callum Booth and midfielder Scott Taggart were all, along with David Wotherspoon, part of the Under-19 squad which swept all before them two years ago.

Their return has prompted calls from some quarters to be thrown straight into the first team, a run of seven successive SPL matches without a win having left Hibs just four points off basement side Hamilton who have a game in hand.

Byrne tasted action as he replaced Merouane Zemmama for the final ten minutes of Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Celtic while Booth took a seat on the bench, but today the 20-year-old, who sepnt six months with East Fife, insisted everyone had to trust Calderwood's judgment.

He said: "Obviously I am hoping I can convince the manager to give me more game time, I am confident I can score goals given the chance but it is entirely up to him and his staff.

"If you aren't ready then being put into the first team wouldn't be the best thing for you, it's the manager who makes that judgment. It's an entirely different level playing in the SPL as opposed to the Under-19s, a huge step-up. The three of us went out on loan for six months with the instruction to get games, sharpen up and get tougher which I feel we have all done.

"The manager has been great with everyone and when the time is right then I am sure it will happen but at the moment we just have to be patient."