Ross Caldwell and Danny Handling can strike it rich at Hibs

JAMES McDONAUGH would love nothing more than to see Ross Caldwell and Danny Handling leading the Hibs attack for years to come – and he reckons they can drive each other on to achieve that feat.

The Easter Road side’s Head of Academy Coaching has seen these two close friends forge a superb striker partnership in the youth ranks, and sees no reason why they can’t carry that into the first team.

“They work really well together and there’s a friendly rivalry between the two of them,” said McDonaugh.

“It would be the ultimate for me to see the two of them establish themselves in the No. 9 and No. 10 jerseys. They’ve definitely got the potential to do it. It’s all about whether or not they take their chance. They’ve made a good impression on the manager, but the only reason they’re not playing is because Leigh Griffiths and Eoin Doyle have been exceptional. The hard part for them is whether they can handle waiting for their chance. They’ve been used to being the best players of their age-group all through the ranks and playing every week, but now they’re at an age where they’re maybe not starting as many games as they are used to.

“It’s hard for them to handle, but that’s where I have to try and help them.”