HIBEES: Celtic tie can spark us – Caldo

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focus is Hibernian and himself,” said Calderwood of his team’s talisman. “All that’s important is Hibernian to him at the minute. What’s good is the international breaks give him a break.

“We’ll have five games in 15 days and he’ll be involved in the majority of that; I would dread the thought of him going away to play for Scotland.”

Meanwhile, Hibs have been paired with Celtic in the quarter-final Scottish Communities League Cup after their victory over Motherwell on penalties in midweek. Calderwood said his players would draw inspiration from the giant-killing exploits of Ayr United, Falkirk and East Fife in the previous round.

“You don’t need to sell this tie to the players,” said the Hibs boss. “It’s going to be a good night. There won’t be too many people making us favourites against Celtic. Therefore, we must go and do what Falkirk have done against Rangers and Ayr have done against Hearts.

“As we proved, you don’t actually need to win the game, you can draw and get through.”

Calderwood admitted he felt a hint of inevitability about the fact Hibs will host Celtic just days before travelling to the east end of Glasgow to face the same opposition on league duty.

“An away game against Celtic would have been the most difficult tie but this is still a tough one. We also play them the following Saturday in the SPL and I thought it might work out that way. There will be a green and white team in the semi-finals and I hope it’s Hibs.”

In the other three quarter-final ties St Mirren host Ayr, Dundee United play Falkirk, and Kilmarnock face East Fife. All ties are to be played on October 25 or 26.