1 day Ago By John Greechan
Rudi Molotnikov has been backed to impress for club andcountry after establishing himself in the Hibs first team at just 18 years ofage. And the youngster has been cited as an example of gaffer David Gray’swillingness to take a punt on youth – despite being saddled with a ‘bloated’squad of senior pros. Molotnikov scored three goals in as many games for ScotlandUnder-19s over the most recent international break, including bagging adramatic double as the Scots came from 2-0 down to draw with a star-studdedNetherlands side.
He then made his tenth start of the season for Hibs inSaturday’s first league win of the campaign, a convincing 2-0 victory over StJohnstone at Easter Road. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FITBAW TALK HERE Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Hibs academy director Gareth Evans says the teenager fullydeserves his place in Gray’s starting XI.
And Evans believes Molotnikov’s physicalityhas been key to winning him a spot in a couple of different positions for thesenior side. “Rudi playing in the first team is obviously a big plus forthe academy,” said Evans, the former Hibs forward adding: “He’s a player whohas been with us since he was 10 years old, so it’s always good to see playerscome through the academy and been developed here. “It’s great to see someone playing in the first team and notjust making up the numbers, but actually affecting games and doing really well.
On top of that he's been away with Scotland under-19s and performed really well,scoring two goals against Holland and other goals against Azerbaijan and theFaroe Islands. “I think physically Rudi is ready. He's a strong boy for hisage.
His fitness has got a lot better over the last 12-18 months. He canphysically handle the rough and tumble of the Scottish Premiership. Some of theboys maybe aren't as physically developed as Rudi is at the moment buthopefully that will come with the gym programmes that they're on.
” Advertisement Advertisement Praising Gray for showing faith in the next generation, Evanssaid: “Yeah, I think he's prepared to do that, and he's shown that with Rudigoing into the team. I'm sure if anybody else is standing out in training andgoing over and training with the first team, if they do well, I'm sure thatthey'll be integrated within the first team squad.” While Molotnikov is getting his minutes in the Scottish Premiership,other top prospects have been sent out on loan in search of experience, withKanayo Megwa – a promising right back who found himself behind Lewis Miller andChris Cadden on the depth chart – sealing a temporary move to Partick Thistle this week, Evanssaying: “He’ll benefit from just going out and playing football at a reallygood level.
Kanyo will be playing in the Championship in Scotland which is onlyone down from the Premier League so the more games he gets at that level thebetter he's going to be. GET THE LATEST HIBS NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX DAILY WITH OURFREE NEWSLETTER SERVICE “If Kanayo was back here and he was behind others in thepecking order, you know, it might be hard for him to develop. What I mean isthat he’d find it hard to get game time and actually experience it out on thepitch.
Advertisement Advertisement “So with him going to Partick, he’s got to integrate himselfinto the squad, he's got to find his way with the players in the dressing roomand get to know them. It's all those little things that make up what you needto become a professional footballer. “So hopefully Kanaya can go there and do as well as what hedid at Airdrie last season.
Then he can come back and put himself in a positionto be able to be in the first team here.”.
