Pain makes us stronger

DAVID HARDIE

HIBS star Kevin Thomson today admitted the elation he felt on starting his first match in 15 months turned to despair as he and his team-mates were humbled by arch-rivals Hearts.

But the midfield ace insisted that the knowledge they hadn't done themselves justice before a nationwide television audience will be the driving force for Tony Mowbray's players for the rest of the season.

While losing four goals was bad enough, 20-year-old Thomson was adamant it was the nature of the defeat at Tynecastle which rankled most.

However, Thomson claimed that, while memories of events in Gorgie were still raw, there was a determination in the Easter Road camp to put it behind them and to kick-start their season with the visit of Livingston tomorrow.

Thomson, who hadn't started a game since rupturing his cruciate ligament in May of last year, said: "I was over the moon, to be honest. It had been a long time coming, it was a hard, difficult and long road which had finally come to an end.

"Was I surprised to be given my first start in a derby, yes and no. The gaffer has shown a lot of faith in me and with Scott Brown suspended I thought there might be a place for me.

"It doesn't sound nice and I'd rather Scott hadn't been banned but perhaps that's the sort of wee break you need when you are not in the team."

Thomson's joy soon evaporated as George Burley's rampant Hearts side cruised to victory, the Hibs star admitting: "I went home and went straight to my bed. It's not a nice feeling knowing you haven't done yourself justice in front of all those people who would have been watching on television.

"I am a big Hibby and while you never like losing any game, going to Tynecastle and being beaten like that was hard to take. We just didn't perform on the day and I think if we had come off the park knowing everyone had given 110 per cent and been beaten then the gaffer might have been a bit happier."

But despite the gloom which descended on the east side of the city afterwards, Thomson insisted he and his team-mates have what it takes to bounce back.

He said: "The one thing we know is that we can play much better than we did at Tynecastle and hopefully when they come over to Easter Road later in the season we can give them a better game.

"The boys proved last season how good a side we can be and although we haven't started the season as quickly as we would have liked we are confident it will all come good, hopefully starting tomorrow.

"Monday morning was a bit depressing but we came in Tuesday, the gaffer started picking us up and training has been at a good tempo this week. We don't want to rest on what we did last season, we want to show we are not one season wonders. The manager is pushing and pushing, he'll get the best out of the boys."

Thomson admitted that, after such a long lay-off, he was still searching for peak match fitness - and insisted fellow midfielders Guillaume Beuzelin and Michael Stewart were in a similar situation.

He said: "Of the midfield which faced Hearts, only Stephen Glass had played week in, week out last season. I hardly played at all, Guillaume missed half of the season and Michael also had injury problems.

"I feel that we are definitely going to get better and better with each passing week. Personally I feel I am three or four games off getting that sharpness, I feel as if I am missing that wee edge in the tackle.

"When you have been out as long as I was and then start to come back how far you are behind the others in terms of fitness is unbelievable, there are times when the boys are cruising through a wee run and yet you are huffing and puffing. But with a few games under the belt things will get better and better."

And Thomson admitted he's looking forward to playing his part this season having been forced, apart from four appearances as a substitute, to watch the entire campaign from the stand.

He said: "The boys played some wonderful football last season. It's always hard to watch when things are going well and the team is picking up big results like the one at Celtic Park and you can't be part of it.

"You don't want to be sitting in the stand watching them knock the ball about the way I want to knock it about so hopefully I can take this chance to impress the gaffer and stay in the side."

With Livingston yet to gain a single point Thomson believes tomorrow's match will be tough - but he predicted that will be the nature of the SPL this season.

He said: "I don't think there will be any games this season in which any side will believe 'this is a banker'. Everyone is going to have to work very hard in every game.

"We know there is an expectation on us because of what we achieved last season but other sides have been strengthening and getting better. I think we are going to have a very good SPL this season, it's getting tighter and tighter and every match is going to be a battle.

"However, if we work as hard as other teams and play the football we know we are capable of then I believe we'll get the results and have an enjoyable season.

"I know the fans have been hurting this week - the players have been feeling exactly the same - but there's no need to start pushing any panic buttons, we have faith in our ability and hopefully we'll start putting things right tomorrow."

After tomorrow's match Thomson will report, along with team-mates Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker, for Scotland's Under-21 match against Austria, the Hibs star grateful to coach Rainer Bonhof for keeping him involved at that level after his long-lay off.

He said: "At the end of last season he knew I'd been struggling to get back into the Hibs team but he took me to Moldova and Belarus which was a nice touch.

"In fact, he gave me my first cap in Belarus so hopefully I can win another next week."

Taken from the Scotsman