John Hughes gave me Hibs advice before Edinburgh derby that shook me to the core but Yogi was spot on - Tam McManus

Hibs players were given a pep talk by a motivational speaker last week but even I could turn into Sir Alex Ferguson in that regard ahead of this week’s derby. Two words required: Hearts away.

That’s all that should be needed to get every person from the players, coaching staff, supporters, kitman, tea ladies ready to run through the Tynecastle away dressing room wall. That was my introduction to the derby. John Hughes style. My first ever top team start for Hibs coincided with the big man’s last appearance on the final day of the season in 2000.

His words five minutes before kick off will live with me til the day I die. Everyone knows what type of player Yogi was and it’s no exaggeration to say he was bouncing off the walls in the away dressing room. He was punching and headering brick walls and was pumped up beyond belief. On the flip side my backside was twitching thinking about what was to come. He could see that.

Five minutes before the bell went to go out he grabbed me and said: “See if you hide out there today wee man it’s not just the fans you will have to worry about wanting to batter you .. I’ll want to batter you!”

That was it. I went out and had a stormer and got man of the match even though we lost 2-1. Yogi gave me a pat on the back and that was all the praise I needed.

There was no hiding or being nervous with Yogi. It was about showing for the ball, being brave and making something happen.

I remember the first 10 minutes of that game and it wasn’t 100 miles per hour - it was 1000! Lee Makel and Colin Cameron both smashed me and I just had to keep showing for the ball in a red hot atmosphere. But Yogi’s words were spot on. You have to have big cojunes, as they say, for these games.

It’s advice that every