by Stuart Crowther

Date: 20th May 2002

Tam's future as a wide boy? McManus versatility could be his saviour TAM McMANUS PROBABLY THOUGHT that life just could not get any better as he broke through into the Hibs first team and the Scotland Under-21 set-up.  Then when Franck Sauzee was appointed manager, the Frenchman demonstrated his own appreciation of the McManus skills by awarding the striker a new 5-year contract.  That was the first decision taken by Sauzee as boss, but sadly it was one of very few as weeks later he was sacked - shortly after McManus had lunged into a tackle at Dens Park that ended his season. The subsequent rise of Garry O'Connor to the first team and his 8 goals from 9 games may have helped Hibs fans forget about McManus and a few other problems surrounding the Easter Road club, but it certainly did nothing to dent the confidence of a striker who seems to have been around Easter Road for a lifetime.  McManus is now fit and raring to go, unfortunately just as the season has ended, but boss Bobby Williamson knows the qualities his young star has and looks upon McManus almost as a new signing.  Arguments may rage throughout the summer on who is the best of Hibs young strikers to start the next campaign, but the Hibs boss does not see it that way at all. Williamson sees very different qualities in both players, and it could be that the more versatile McManus could find himself playing a wide role next season.  Williamson said: "There is a bonus for Tam in that he is flexible, while Garry is more an out-and-out striker Tam can play in the wider areas."  During the pre-season tour of France just under a year ago, both McManus and O'Connor impressed enough to earn places in Alex McLeish's first team squad at the start of the campaign.  Sadly for O'Connor, a freak injury saw him out for most of the start of the season.  Enough was seen of Hibs young pair playing together however to suggest that they might form a formidable attacking option. McManus and Laursen - a couple of new signings for Williamson (sns) While O'Connor has stolen an edge over his older team-mate, the 19-year-old currently gaining even more experience at international level with Berti Vogts side touring in the Far East, McManus will likely be all the more determined to show that the early promise he has shown was no flash in the pan.  The summer months are often unbearably long for football fans, but for players such as McManus it might well seem a lot longer as he champs at the bit to get back in action.  And in that he will not be alone, as another important player who has suffered long-term injury is also now fully fit.  Ulrik Laursen will almost certainly occupy the left side of Williamson's defence in pre-season games as the Hibs boss takes a closer look at another player he regards as the equivalent of a major new signing. Laursen of course is well enough known to the Hibs boss, it seemed at times that the Dane saved his best performances, and goal-scoring ability, for tussles against Williamson's former club Kilmarnock.  While there has been plenty of talk in recent months about a move from one or other of the old firm for Laursen, that as usual is little more than talk and the Hibs boss is certain he will have Laursen available for the new campaign.  At this early stage of the summer break nothing can be taken for granted, but at least the Hibs boss can be sure he will have many more options available come August than he had in his first few months at the helm.  'Real' new faces may be few and far between from the Hibs support's viewpoint, but the way the Hibs boss is looking at things he has already made two important signings.