Action-starved Gary's greedy for first-team stint at Hibs

IN FOUR years at Newcastle United Scottish kid Gary Caldwell has been starved of first-team football, a single outing in a testimonial for West Bromwich Albion’s Darryl Burgess being his only taste of the big time.

But now the 19-year-old defender is hoping he can show a nationwide television audience just what he can do after jumping at the chance to join Hibs on loan until the end of the season.

The prospect of being handed a baptism of fire in tomorrow night’s live match against Celtic had the Scotland Under-21 stopper drooling, as he insisted: "This is exactly why I have come to Easter Road."

While many may question Caldwell’s decision to temporarily quit the Magpies at a time when manager Bobby Robson’s side are riding high in the English Premiership, the Stirling-born youngster has no doubts about his move back north.

He said: "Newcastle is bouncing right now because the team is doing so well. They are in a great position, the best they’ve been in for a long time.

"The boys had another good win against Spurs on Wednesday night. They are only two points behind Manchester United and obviously we are all hoping they can go on and win it.

"I was actually in the squad for last Sunday’s FA Cup match against Peterborough, but it is difficult for a young player at a club like Newcastle because they have such a good squad."

Even so, Robson was reluctant to let Caldwell leave on loan after Hibs’ assistant boss Donald Park alerted manager Franck Sauzee to the youngster’s ability having been a coach of Scotland’s Under-19 side.

Caldwell said: "The matter was first raised ten days ago and I jumped at the chance. However, I had to fight Newcastle to come as they have a couple of injuries.

"Hopefully I’m good enough to get a starting place and to then do my best for Hibs."

Although he has been on Tyneside since the age of 16 after being spotted playing for Bannockburn Boys’ Club, joining his older brother Steven who signed for Newcastle the previous year, Caldwell has kept in close touch with Scottish football.

He admitted he’s found Hibs’ demise as surprising as the success the Easter Road outfit enjoyed last season. He said: "Coming from up here I’ve always kept a close watch on what’s been happening. Hibs were great last season and to my mind their squad is probably even stronger this time.

"Unfortunately they’ve not had a great time of it. They’ve had a few injuries and some bad results which can hit confidence. But sometimes all it needs is one player to make a difference, not, of course, that I am saying I am that player. However, what I am hoping is that I can contribute in helping the side move up the table and sometimes all that is needed is a win, any sort of a win, to get things going again."

Caldwell admitted that if Hibs were to get that much-needed win tomorrow night it would be regarded as something of a shock, but as someone who trains regularly with the likes of Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy he isn’t daunted at the prospect of facing Henrik Larsson and John Hartson - if chosen. He said: "Who knows? We have to go into the game looking to win it, that would certainly help confidence and it is, after all, a case of 11 against 11.

"I’ve probably seen more of Celtic than most other teams live on television and while they have done very well, anything can happen over 90 minutes."

Caldwell’s first-team experience may be limited, but he did have a spell with Darlington before Christmas in which he played against Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Rochdale and York.

He readily conceded, though, that the English Third Division was a different proposition entirely to facing Celtic. He said: "It will certainly be a step-up, the SPL, from what I have seen, is a very hard league but it is something I am certainly looking forward to being involved in."

Caldwell may be the new boy at Easter Road but in Park and Scotland Under-21 team-mates Ian Murray and Tam McManus he has, at least a few familiar faces. And he admitted he’s already been impressed by Sauzee, even although he only met him for the first time at training yesterday.

He said: "I went to Portugal with Scotland’s Under-19s and worked with Donald for the first time. I thought he was brilliant. He’s a great coach and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

"It’s obvious he’s given the manager good reports about me, now it is up to me to live up to them. I met the manager for the first time at training and he seems a lovely man. He told me to enjoy my time with Hibs, that there was no pressure on me and that I was just to go out and express myself which was terrific to hear."

As to the long-term, is Caldwell hoping good reports from Easter Road will step him up the pecking order at Newcastle or perhaps win him a permanent move to Hibs? He said: "I am only looking forward to playing games and doing well for Hibs, that’s why I am here and that’s all I’m thinking about."

Taken from the Scotsman