Pat Fenlon: The kids are alright

Teenage striker Ross Caldwell, scorer of ten goals for the Under-19s, was handed a seat on the bench for last week’s ill-fated clash with Motherwell and today Fenlon revealed there are others he believes can make the step-up.

He said: “We have watched the Under-19s and brought in a few for training with the first- team squad. Ross has done well, as has Dean Horribine. There’s a few there and I have been impressed by them.”

Fenlon, of course, is casting his net far and wide in search of fresh talent ahead of the January transfer window opening, but he insisted he’ll also be looking much closer to home. He said: “Sometimes you can look outside when some of the answers may be inside – that goes for everyone, the first team and some of the young boys. We need to have a look and see if any of them are good enough to make that step up.”

Fenlon is well aware of Hibs’ long history of producing their own players and it’s a tradition he’s keen to keep going, pointing out that not only do fans enjoy a greater affinity with such stars but having a fruitful youth policy can save money.

He said: “There’s some great work been done here by people who have been at the club and they take great credit for it. If we can produce one or two from that team it will save the club some money. Hibs have produced some fantastic players and we have to keep that going. The club has a great history in that regard, we want to continue it but obviously the time has to be right to blood young players, trying to get that balance. Like any football club, things are tight, we are no different to anywhere in Scotland. At the moment, even the big two are not in a position to be going splashing the cash so it’s a case of being careful, trying good young players, perhaps finding a rough diamond we can develop and trying to get the best out of the ones we have.”