Daniel Handling received a huge boost to his confidence for his performance in Hibs semi-final fight-back against Falkirk. The youngster was an early replacement for midfielder Scott Robertson following Falkirk scoring their third goal the 30th minute of the Scottish Cup game at Hampden last weekend. Handling would love to have done enough to earn a starting place in the Hibs side. He played wide right in the second half, with fellow teenager Alex Harris impressing on the left, and the pair helped Hibs secure a 4-3 win in extra time to ensure a return to Hampden on 26 May. All but one of Handling's 15 appearances for Hibs have come from the bench and the teenager will be hoping be given a longer run in Monday's league game with Aberdeen at Easter Road.Handling said: "My confidence has shot up massively because of what happened last Saturday. I still can't get over how we won the game after the first-half performance but it's starting to sink in now. We were 3-0 down and the gaffer has thrown me in, so it shows the faith he does have in me after all and I hope I repaid some of that faith with a contribution to the win. Any first-team game you play in, your confidence shoots up, so to play in a semi-final is unbelievable. Hopefully I will keep getting the chances but I will take each game as it comes and keep working hard in training and keep trying to improve and catch his eye. Last season at this time I was on loan at Berwick so it just shows the difference that can happen in football in a year."Handling scored a goal for each of his seven games he player with Berwick and has continued to impress manager Pat Fenlon this season. The Irishman admits Harris and Handling could have a big part to play in the remainder of the season. Fenlon said: "The two of them did very well. Alex started the game and did quite well for us through the whole game and Danny came on and made a big impact. I'm delighted for him because he has had to be patient and wait his turn. He came on against Motherwell earlier in the season and did well and scored a goal and maybe feels he should have had a bit more of a taste of it, which is a fair point. Now he has got an opportunity, he has got himself right in to the shop window for a start and that's credit to himself for the work he has done."
Source: ScottishFitba
Source: FOOTYMAD
