Hibs boss hails Lewis Stevenson’s fighting spirit

Hibs boss Pat Fenlon today hailed Lewis Stevenson as the small player with the huge heart, insisting the little midfielder is showing what it takes to win the Easter Road outfit’s battle against relegation.

Stevenson has won a string of man-of-the-match awards in recently and along with striker Leigh Griffiths was reckoned by Fenlon to be Hibs best player in the midweek defeat by Motherwell.

Although he’s anxiously been awaiting the birth of his first child in the past couple of weeks, Stevenson, who boasts the longest continual service of any of the current Hibs squad, has managed to continue impressing his boss on a daily basis.

Fenlon said: “Lewis has had a lot on his mind and he’ll have a few sleepless nights now for a while but he has been fantastic, exactly what you want as a footballer.

“Lewis shows what you need in a player where we are at the moment, that fight, determination and desire, not to be afraid to get on the ball and to go and play.

“He’s never a problem, he comes in every day, gets on with his game, never moans or groans and does a mountain of work on the pitch. He’s brilliant to have around.”

Fenlon revealed he’s also hoping to have another influential character back in the squad soon, club captain Ian Murray, admitting: “We’ve missed him.”

The utility man is battling back to full fitness following a groin operation at the beginning of January and while his initial recovery was swifter than expected he’s still awaiting the signal to return to flat-out training.

Fenlon said: “Ian’s progress has been a bit slow. He’s had a rough time and had a bit of a bug which set him back. He’s one we’d have hoped to have had back, it would be good to have him around. He knows the game , an experienced player, a good professional.

“Hopefully he should be back in the next week or two.”