Nick Montgomery ready for Hearts as Hibs boss names the derby battles that hardened him for Edinburgh showdown

Sheffield's Steel City Derby tested Nick Montgomery’s mettle to the core while the F3 Derby in Australia saw him rewarded with a bizarre trophy made of CONCRETE.

Now the Hibs boss is preparing for his first taste of the Edinburgh version at Tynecastle tomorrow with a solid understanding of what it means to the supporters. Hibs are hunting a first victory in Hearts territory for almost four years and the their fans head across the city in expectant mood after going five games unbeaten - the last four since Montgomery took charge.

And while the 41-year-old might be new to the city, he knows full well what it means to grab bragging rights. His first taste of a footballing rivalry came as a 10-year-old Leeds United fan heading to watch his boyhood heroes take on Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. But it was when he stepped into the fire with Sheffield United, where he was to become a Blades legend making 398 appearances including many as skipper across 12 years, that he properly understood the intensity of a city rivalry.

Then came the smaller scale, but no less frantic, F3 derby in the A-League where just this year his Central Coast Mariners side were rewarded with a trophy made with concrete extracted from the F3 motorway which links their home patch with Newcastle - home of the Jets. Montgomery said: “We were the only team in history to win all three derbies in one season. Two away and one at home.

“We got the concrete trophy from the F3, which was nice. Quite heavy!

“I think some players just love derby games from the off. It’s always quite hectic, frantic even, at the start. Once the game settles down, that’s when the players have a chance to make history.”

Derbies don’t come much tougher than the Steel City version in