Stokes and Miller set the Hibs example

HIBS boss John Hughes today praised the attitude shown by new boys Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller in the aftermath of defeat to Hamilton – and reckons more players should follow their example.

The Easter Road gaffer hinted that he may make changes to his team for this weekend's league match against St Johnstone after the disappointing display against Accies.

Hughes is demanding a massive improvement in effort levels and commitment both in training and out on the field of play and his message seems to be getting through.

The Irish duo have both knocked on their manager's door this week asking to get more game time under their belts in bounce matches and that is music to Hughes' ears.

He said: "I've had guys this week, like Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller come to my office and ask if they can play in the bounce match today because they want to get themselves firing on all cylinders again.

"That's the kind of attitude that I want to see from all of my players.

"We set our own standards at this club and I want every single one of the players to go out there and give it everything they've got.

"The honeymoon period is over. If these guys don't want to go out there and give everything for themselves then I don't want them in my side."

Hughes conceded that he may have picked the wrong side to combat Hamilton's bustling midfielders but believes that his players should still have had enough in their locker to deal with the threat posed by Billy Reid's team.

He insisted there is plenty of talent at Easter Road, but stressed that means nothing if it is not coupled with simple hard graft: "I've got to put my hands up and admit that, with hindsight, I probably played the wrong team against Hamilton. I think we were maybe a bit lightweight, we didn't put a team out who would make sure that Hamilton knew they were in a battle. All over the pitch we lost our one-on-ones.

"You've got to have that edge to your character and to your game and it was missing on Sunday.

"The talent is here but hard work beats talent every time when talent doesn't work hard. Talent on its own is not enough. You need to put everything into a game to get something back out of it."

Hughes had his side in for a post-mortem yesterday and feels that he proved his point to the players, adding: "We've done things a bit differently this week. We had the players in on Monday, we didn't think that they deserved a day off.

"We split them into three seven-a-side teams and we really thought about how we were splitting them up. And it worked because one of the teams went out, worked really hard and won every match.

"The rest of the boys recognised that and we didn't have to say too much to them.

"I am looking for a positive response from them. If people want to feel sorry for themselves then they are no good to me.

"If any one of the players who played in that game on Sunday can come and knock on my door to complain if they are left out of the side this weekend, then they have got a real brass neck."