Hibs: Colin Nish still has important role insists Caldo

COLIN CALDERWOOD insisted today that Colin Nish still has an important role to play for Hibs, stressing that he wants to cultivate more than one successful strike partnership at Easter Road.

New boy Akpo Sodje combined with Derek Riordan in midweek to net Hibs first goal in their 2-0 win over St Mirren and get his career in green and white off to a flier.

Hibs boss Calderwood is likely to give the same partnership another run out in their next league game against Kilmarnock a week today. However he stressed that Nish, who was linked with a move to China during the January transfer window, is still part of his plans.

Acknowledging the hard graft that Nish has put in this season, regularly playing in the lone striker's role, Calderwood said: "Akpo adds a little bit of a freshness. Colin Nish has battled a lone journey on occasions this season and, against teams like Celtic and Rangers, that's a more difficult task than St Mirren.

"You have got to feel for him in that respect and when two strikers combine to score a goal it is always rewarding.

"We have got to develop more than one partnership and the importance of Colin Nish coming off the bench on Wednesday was huge. I thought all of the subs did well."

Meanwhile a trio of Hibs youngsters were celebrating today after being called into the Scotland Under-21s side by boss Billy Stark.

David Wotherspoon, Paul Hanlon and Callum Booth have been asked to join up with the Scots squad on Monday for a training camp. The camp will include two practice matches as the national side prepare for qualifying for the UEFA Under-21 European Championships.