HIBS boss John Hughes today claimed he'll be able to tell within minutes of his squad's first training session who is up for playing the style of football which will "get the fans on their feet".
Hughes will meet most of his players for the first time when they report back for pre-season training on Thursday with their new manager insisting they should be looking forward to the day rather than dreading it. While training will, obviously, be
designed to have every player hitting peak fitness for the start of the season on 15 August, Hughes will ensure they get down to ball work from day one.
He said: "My philosophy is simple, I won't ask them to pass the ball on a Saturday if I am not going to give it to them during the week so they will get it the first day back."
And that, Hughes believes, will give him an immediate indication of which players are up to the task. He said: "I'll be assessing everything, I'll be walking about with my eyes wide open and everyone will be given every opportunity.
"In the first 15 minutes of the balls coming out I will see how they pass the ball, their touch and control. You might be the fittest, the strongest, the quickest or a combination of everything but the most important thing if you are a football player is that ball has to be your 'teddy bear'.
"Some will be better but everyone has to be comfortable on the ball and it is my job to make them. I will instantly see that, they will think it is a bit of fun doing their passing drills but I don't want to see guys bobbling balls in. As a professional you have to be able to put the guy on the front foot if you want to play a passing game."
With seven of Hibs' successful Under-19 side joining his squad, which already numbers 24, Hughes is determined to give those already at the club their opportunity to shine, although he admitted there will be comings and goings with the first arrival Irish midfielder Patrick Cregg from Falkirk.
To that end, Hughes revealed he's told the numerous agents who have been touting clients to him to "back off" for the time being. Throughout a family holiday in Florida Hughes was bombarded with calls. But, while he accepts agents were simply doing their job, he added: "I'd be walking around theme parks with the kids with my mobile to my ear.
"Agents think there's a new manager in so he'll be looking for hundreds of players so the phone never stops. But I've been telling them they are far, far too quick. I need to assess the boys we already have, it's only right I give people a chance. There will be one or two who will be thinking they'll get a new opportunity under a new manager and maybe one or two who say 'he's not for me'. But I just want to get in and rub shoulders with them and see them enjoy their football."
Hughes may be about to take his training session as Hibs manager, but this will be his 26th pre-season with, he insisted, the emphasis being put very much on injury prevention as his players step up towards the first of their friendly matches against Dunfermline a fortnight later. He said: "I'd say pre-season training has evolved, it's a bit more scientific. The days of a player coming back half-a-stone or a stone over are gone. I'd would be very angry and upset if that were the case.
"I want to hit the ground running so hopefully they'll all come back knowing they are doing so to work with a new manager and, I'd like to think, looking to impress.
"But we still have a lot of work to do both getting them fit and in coaching, building it from the back, in to midfield and the last quarter.
"However, I know the aches and pains, the strains of pre-season and the programme we have of games coming thick and fast so we are all about injury prevention, I don't want to see my physio's room stowed out every morning.
"For their part, the boys have to make sure they are doing the right things in terms of diet, massages, ice baths and so on, simple things like the right training shoes, making sure they are not wearing new training shoes or boots because they cause blisters.
"I'm asking them to be ultra-professional and I'll be saying that to them over the first couple of days."
Although, as manager, Hughes will be the voice of authority, he insisted the players themselves will draw up their own "charter" as to what is expected of them.
He said: "I am the kind of guy who gives everyone a say so there will be lots of team meetings. I'll ask them what style of football they want to play, how the team is going to go about it, how we can be successful, what do they see as success and how do they measure it and how, individually and collectively, can they move towards it. Once they have done that they'll have drawn up their own rules and they have to stick to them. I'm right in it with them and sympathetic to what they are going through.
"I hope they'll find I am a guy they can come and talk to, someone who is innovative, who can get the best out of them and inspire them. If we can do all that then I can only see good times ahead.
"Of course, I've been in the game long enough to know we cannot win every game, although we'll be trying to do that, but I want to see us play with a style that hopefully will bring the fans to their feet."
Hughes, who will have Brian Rice join him at the club's East Mains Training Centre as his assistant before the players return, had one final message for his squad. He said: "The most important thing is they have to understand how we work. It's quite simple, not rocket science. "Go out and enjoy yourselves, if you don't want to drive here and get out on that training pitch, if you are not happy at your work, then don't come in."
The full article contains 1085 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
