Hibs sign Ross Caldwell for another two years

The 18-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season as a regular scorer with the club’s Under-19 side – ten goals in 16 starts – and caught the eye of Pat Fenlon within days of the Irishman succeeding Colin Calderwood as manager.

Likened by many to a “young” Garry O’Connor, he was quickly promoted to Fenlon’s first team squad and made his debut as a substitute in the final minutes of December’s home clash with Rangers.

Since then the Bellshill-born youngster has found top-flight opportunities restricted as Fenlon has relied on O’Connor, Ivan Sproule and Leigh Griffiths along with January arrivals Eoin Doyle and Roy O’Donovan as he bids to haul Hibs clear of the threat of relegation.

He has, however, not been forgotten and, as today’s news indicates, Caldwell is seen very much as a star of the not-too-distant future.

Meanwhile, Fenlon has urged his players to make the most of last week’s victory over Kilmarnock by clocking up another win when St Mirren visit Easter Road tomorrow.

The victory at Rugby Park lifted Hibs three points clear of basement outfit Dunfermline but Fenlon wants to see an improvement in his side’s home record – just one league triumph in an entire year – rapidly improve.

He said: “It was a good win at Kilmarnock, but it will become an even better win if we can back it up with another one.” Fenlon believes, however, that confidence has been lifted by recent performances, declaring himself “happy enough” with his side’s displays if the heavy defeat by Celtic was set aside.

He said: “If you look at last week we had two games away from home against Motherwell and Kilmarnock. If you’d said we’d have picked up two points we’d have been happy, we lost one [game] but got three points. But our home form has been poor over a period of time and we have to change that.

“There are things we can do at the end of the season to do so, but at the moment we need to look at our home games and focus on picking up points.

“It’s difficult to get them on the road but our away record is probably a little bit better.

“However, if we are to move forward as a club it is important we build up our home record.

“I think Easter Road was always regarded as a difficult place to come to but maybe that’s changed a little bit with the dynamics of the stadium as well.

“It’s maybe a nice place to come to for other teams and we have to make it a bit more uncomfortable for them.”