Hibs’ teenager Jamie Gullan was delighted to make his league debut in Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Hamilton Academical in front of almost 17,000 fans at Easter Road.
The highly rated youngster signed for the club after a period in Hearts’ youth setup and has enjoyed loan-spells at Gala Fairydean Rovers and Queens Park.
He also scored one of Hibs’ goals in last season’s Youth Cup final victory over Aberdeen.
Gullan featured in Hibs’ Europa League qualifies against NSI Runavik and now looks to keep up his standards on and off the pitch with a view to consolidating a place in the first team squad.
Speaking after the final whistle to Cliff Pike of Hibernian TV, Gullan said: “It was a very good day. Obviously the most important thing was the win and I was delighted to make my debut.
“I’ve been training well the last few weeks and I thought that with a bit of luck I could maybe get on the bench and see what happens.
“Luckily today that happened. Leading up to it there was a bit of nerves but when I got on I was fine.
“It was an easy game to come onto being four-nil up. The team were very good in the first half and got the job done and I was happy to contribute a wee bit at the end. I could have got a goal but it wasn’t to be.
“My aim was to get as good as a pre-season as I could then see what happens and there is not that big a squad here so I knew if there were a few injuries I could get a chance.
“I was lucky to go away to the Faroes and Greece and that made my mind up that I could get on the bench.
“I now have to keep working hard and trying to do the right thing in training and keep the standards up on and off the pitch.
“The reserve league is a great experience. I’ve been laying against men each week and that helps me to work on my strengths, how to use my body and how to play around them rather than last year playing against people our own age which you get used to.
“It’s a step up and it will help if we get chances in the first team.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.