GRANT BREBNER TOOK HIS FIRST PENALTY in senior football at Easter Road yesterday, and while the Hibs-daft midfielder admitted afterwards that there were a few thoughts flashing through his mind as he stepped up to take the vital kick these did not last long!  And the same could be said of any doubts that Brebner has of remaining a Hibs player, as he appeared to squash any talk that he was on his way out at Easter Road, insisting that he had a year of his current deal to run and as far as he was concerned he would not only be seeing that out, but hoped that negotiations could be concluded at some point over an extension to his stay at the club.

That will come as great news for Hibs fans who have already had more to smile about of late with the superb form of youngsters such as Derek Riordan and Scott Brown, who again demonstrated at times against Motherwell yesterday that the future of the club is not perhaps as bleak as has been painted in recent weeks.  I don't know what it looked like form the stands but it felt like a decent game to play in," Brebner said of what at times was a dire end of season tussle against relegation-favourites Motherwell.  Brebner clearly felt there was a lot to take from this and the previous two wins over Aberdeen and Dundee United for Hibs, the midfielder adding:  "A lot of the games this season have not been pretty but it's encouraging in the last three that I've felt we played well, and we've picked up the results.  Although there is nothing really to play for from our point of view it is still good to see the boys playing well and giving the commitment.  It is frustrating that there is nothing to play for but if you are not up there challenging or still in a cup then it's always going to be like that, but it's important that we still had these games as we still have a lot that we needed to work on after the season we've had, it's about getting things right."

Grant Brebner celebrates with Mathias Jack after scoring from the spot (sns)

Like everyone else at Easter Road, Brebner is delighted at the form shown by Riordan and Brown, the latter in particular showing remarkable maturity for a 17-year-old while Riordan, 3 years his senior, also appears to have made his own point perhaps to Hibs boss Bobby Williamson that he has been ready for some time but just needed to be given the chance.  Brebner said: "The young guys up front have given everyone a lift throughout the team, they have came in and created things and that has certainly made things easier for the rest of the guys, they are getting on the ball and they are hungry which is important."  Brebner however made it clear that while the youngsters were the future for Hibs, they needed older heads around them if the club are to move on to better things next season, and that is the real thought behind his much-publicised comments on the club lacking ambition.  "I definitely did not question the clubs ambition," Brebner said of newspaper reports linking him with a move away from Easter Road, adding: "Perhaps that is the way it came across but all I said on the matter was that I did not want to sign a contract while I could not see who was coming in. 

"I have time on my hand, I do have another year and it was not something I wished to rush in and do until I see who comes into the squad and strengthens it up, and that is purely what it was.  It would not worry me if we went into next season with a number of younger players, as you've seen we've went into the last couple of games with younger players but during the course of a season you do need a big squad and I don't think we could go all the way next season with kids.  I think we would need to bring some legs in and strengthen the side and also add a bit of quality to the team, and there is no question the manager wants to do that so as a player you do want to play with good players as well."  The question most fans would be asking however is would Grant still be around to help these youngsters on, and it appeared to be great news for Hibees as Brebner was emphatic in saying:  "I still have a year to go in my contract, and I'm 100% behind fulfilling that year with the hope of staying and signing another extension, that's my position and I hope the club will come back with an offer."

Another Easter Road youngster was given his chance again yesterday under more unfortunate circumstances, as a pre-match seizure ruined Alen Orman's hopes of a return to action after being named in Bobby Williamson's starting line-up.  Orman is understood to have recovered quickly again from his Epileptic attack, on which Brebner commented: "It's not nice to see but then it's not something that we have not seen before we are all professional and know Alen is professional with his attitude, we have come to terms with it and all credit to Alen, it's something that everyone just accepts and gets on with it.  I think Steven Whittaker was still stuffing pies into his face when he got the call, he was in the squad and it knocked him back a bit not being in the side at first, but the fact that the manager put him straight onto the pitch show just what he does think of him."  Williamson himself back that up in saying: "Steven could have been away with the Under-18 side earlier in the day but he was in the squad although not on the bench, but as a precaution we kept him with us and I'm glad we did that.  The boy did alright, it's not his position as he is an attacking midfield type of player, defensive roles are not is forte but he did alright.  Alen has fits but it does not take him too long to come round again, this one was just too close to kick-off and there was no chance of him recovering in time.

Manager Williamson meanwhile was happy enough with another winning performance from his side, the Hibs boss notable in his appreciation of Mathias Jack and Scott Brown, applauding them from the park enthusiastically as both were replaced by Jarkko Wiss and Alan Reid.  "I'm delighted with the win, we knew it was going to be a hard game and that proved to be the case.  It was difficult but we got there, defended well at the end and stayed strong so we got the result," Williamson said.  It was perhaps a surprise that Nick Colgan was dropped to the bench in favour of Daniel Andersson, making his home debut for the club.  The goalkeeper had little to do for most of the game but two superb saves in the final minutes ensured three points for Hibs.  Williamson said:  "I thought Daniel did well with the save low to his left but the boy probably made the wrong decision, perhaps he should have hit it first time or had a better touch before hitting it but it looked as if he was trying to take it round him and Daniel got a hand to scoop it away for a good save."