There might be a Champions League semi final on tonight but Ill be more interested in hearing the result of the SFA Youth Cup Final. Having clinched the league title last weekend, Hibs under-19's are going for the double.
Hibs face Rangers - the current holders of the trophy and finalists three years running. The Ibrox side are much criticised for not briniging through enough youngsters from their Murray Park complex. It would appear that the talent is there but Rangers generally have more readies available to dip into the transfer market for an established player rather than persevering with youngsters.
On the other hand, seven of tonight's Hibs squad have already been given new contracts and been told they will move up to join the first team next season. The question is when boss Mixu Paatelainen will give them a chance. My impression almost a year and a half into his tenure is that he prefers to sign and play seasoned journeymen ahead of some of his young talent.
But Ewan Moyes and Sean Welsh are a couple you might see in the Hibs first team over the next season or two. And Kurtis Byrne is a name that could feature soon in the SPL scoring charts. Hes the son of former Celtic player, Paul Byrne, and Hibs snapped him up from Norwich City a couple of years ago.
They might have to wait a while however, as slightly older Hibs players like Darren McCormack and Paul Hanlon are struggling to feature regularly for Hibs despite making the breakthrough into the Scotland under-21 squad.
