Hibs boss Pat in warning to his old guard

HIBS manager Pat Fenlon has warned his senior players that the current crop of youngsters at Easter Road are beginning to emerge as a genuine threat to their first-team places.

The likes of Ross Caldwell, Danny Handling, Sam Stanton and Calum Antell have all shone on Hibs’ pre-season tour, which has seen them based in the Netherlands, while also playing games in Belgium and Germany. Caldwell, Handling and Stanton accounted for all the goals in the 4-0 win over Zeeland Select yesterday, while goalkeeper Antell, fresh from signing a new contract last week, enjoyed a clean sheet.

Fenlon has been impressed with the way his starlets have handled themselves over the past week or so, and admits they are forcing their way into his thoughts ahead of the SPL opener away to Dundee United a week on Sunday. “The older boys should be getting worried because the young players were fantastic, and they should get plenty of confidence from the performance and the goals,” said the Hibs manager.

“Sammy is a natural footballer. There is not much coaching you do with a player like that. He’s a real talent and he needs to embrace where he is.”

Hibs complete their continental adventure against Union Berlin in Germany tomorrow.