Lewis Stevenson hails return of 'Rolls-Royce' Joe Newell as Hibs captain speaks on Motherwell win and easing of injuries

But not even the 34-year-old Easter Road veteran was prepared for the rambunctious opening to his side’s Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Motherwell on Sunday that saw one red card, two yellows, and Elias Melkersen’s first goal in green and white.

“It got off to a pretty frantic start – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” the stand-in captain said after the game.

"In the first half I thought we were doing everything well; we worked on rotations that hurt Motherwell and created a lot of good chances – probably more than we have in recent weeks.

"To lose that goal just before half time was a bit disappointing and it obviously had an effect on the second half.”

The red card was shown to ‘Well defender Bevis Mugabi for a dangerous challenge on Josh Doig after just 49 seconds and Stevenson was one of the first on the scene to check on his protégé and, as skipper, have words with the referee.

"If you’re on the pitch you’re going to scream for it,” he insisted. “It was quite a bad one at the time and when you see it back but you have to be careful in this day and age.

"I think there was another one in that half that was just as bad [Jordan Roberts on Drey Wright] so maybe between the two of them a red card was deserved.”

The Hibs stalwart has seen his fair share of youngsters breaking into the first team but reckons the unpredictability behind Melkersen starting his first game since joining from Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt gave the visitors an edge.

"He’s been great. He’s young, enthusiastic, still got a lot to learn but he was unbelievable and could have ended up with three or four in that first half,” Stevenson added.

"That youthful exuberance and positivity and also us being able to use him as a