Source: Team_Talk
Stevenson refuses to get down-hearted
Stevenson, 22, was the club's first-choice left-back under former boss Mixu Paatelainen but Hughes' arrival last summer has seen the youngster all but frozen out.[LNB]Just seven appearances this season and only three starts testify to that.[LNB]But Stevenson is not one to complain, despite having also lost his place in the Scotland Under-21 squad.[LNB]Last Saturday's 1-0 Scottish Premier League defeat at Motherwell was Stevenson's first start for three months and he is not optimistic about keeping his place against St Johnstone on Saturday.[LNB]"It's a hard one but I'll take it either way," he said.[LNB]"If I get to play then I'll try to do my best.[LNB]"If not, I'll just keep my head up and keep going."[LNB]Stevenson, who filled in at centre-midfield last week, added: "To be honest, it's hard to say what position I play these days![LNB]"It's an old cliche but I'm just happy to play anywhere."[LNB]Stevenson's recall came in the middle of Hibs' worst run of form of the season, with the Edinburgh club taking just one point from their last four games.[LNB]Until then, they had been well clear in third place and were even challenging the Old Firm.[LNB]Stevenson insisted he took no pleasure in the mini-slump, despite it giving him more chance of playing.[LNB]"Your team-mates are your pals as well," he said.[LNB]The youngster was also philosophical about being left out of Billy Stark's Scotland Under-21 squad for Tuesday night's crucial European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan.[LNB]"He phoned me the day before the squad was announced," Stevenson added.[LNB]"It was nice to get that phonecall.[LNB]"It just shows that people are still thinking about you, still looking out for you."[LNB]Hibs were also snubbed as a club by new Scotland boss Craig Levein, despite their lofty position in the SPL.[LNB]"Ian Murray's played really well; he maybe sees himself as a bit unlucky not to be in the squad," said Stevenson, who also feels Derek Riordan was unfortunate to miss out.[LNB]"Deep down, he's probably a bit disappointed. He's a quality player; I'm sure he'll get his chance soon."[LNB]Regardless of whether he is involved or not, Stevenson believes it is vital Hibs get back to winning ways.[LNB]"I think if get a good win on Saturday then the bad wee run we've been on will be forgotten," he said, insisting Saints were the ideal opponents, with last week's 5-1 thrashing at McDiarmid Park still fresh in the memory.[LNB]He added: "If someone told us at the start of the season we'd be third with 12 games left, we'd have taken it."[LNB]Tomorrow will be an emotional day at Easter Road, with black armbands being worn in memory of Bobby Smith and Alan Gordon, while the stadium's East Stand is due to be demolished after the match.[LNB]"I've got a few friends who stood in that stand and they've got mixed feelings about it," said Stevenson.[LNB]"That East Stand creates a lot of the atmosphere at the games and they give the team a real lift.[LNB]"We want to try to show our thanks by getting a win and hopefully we can carry that on when the new stand's built."[LNB][LNB]
