Hibernian's reputation for bringing through young players has been further enhanced this season, the arrival of John Hughes as manager certainly doing nothing to discourage young players at the club to feel they have a very real chance of first team football.

The double-winning Under-19 side from last season has provided the manager with a few important young members of his first team squad, and already just a few games into the season two of them have come to the fore - Kurtis Byrne and David Wotherspoon.

While Kurtis perhaps has a deal more competition for a first team place, David has made a more immediate impact perhaps as much because of his versatility in being able to play in a number of positions. The youngster will certainly have cause to remember the start of the 2009/10 season, scoring a vital equaliser for the side in his debut league match against St Mirren at Easter Road, then going on to a place in the starting line-up for the visit of Celtic last time out.

"I think it has surprised me a little that I've been so involved in the first team so early," David admitted to Hibernian TV this week, adding: "I expected to perhaps get a game from the bench every now and again if I was lucky enough, but I've found myself playing quite regularly and for me this has been a really great start to the season. It is a big step up for me but when you are playing alongside first team players they get you through things as does the manager. They all help you to take those big steps and they have made it a bit easier for me."

The player admitted that having a manager who retains such expansive character has helped him along the way: "John Hughes is a very open-minded person who wants you to speak your own opinion, he expects you to ask questions if you have them - but most of the younger players here pick things up quite quickly, the system he wants to employ and things like that."

The season may only be a few games old but Wotherspoon will probably retain that first goal for Hibernian on his debut as a highlight of the campaign: "The goal against St Mirren was a fabulous moment for me, I did not know what to do to be honest - the ball just seemed to trundle in at the back post but it was a great feeling to see it go in and realise what I'd done. I found myself on the bench the following week against Falkirk but that's football for you, of course I felt I perhaps merited a start in that game but the manager has his job to do and as a player you take that on the chin and get on with it. The manager came over and put his arm around me and explained that I was still very much a part of the team and to keep my head up and I would get my chance again."

After coming on as a substituted in the 3-1 win over Falkirk, David was back in the starting line-up a week later, that versatility shining through again as he took up a couple of roles with Hibernian chasing an equaliser - and it was again so nearly Wotherspoon who provided a breakthrough: "That chance to get back into the side came against Celtic - and I could have scored then as well, the ball came to me and just sat up so I hit it. To be honest I thought it was in all the way - but somehow the goalkeeper got a fingertip on to it just as I was about to run away and celebrate the goal. Some of the boys after the game were saying I should have hit the ball harder! It was great to get a start against Celtic, fantastic experience."