The Spartans head into today’s KDM Evolution Trophy fixture against Hibernian B, with Captain Kevin Waugh leading his side out against a team he plied his trade for at the outset of his career.
Douglas Samuel’s side take a five-match unbeaten run into the tie which includes a pair of draws in the competition against League One opposition.
For the Skipper, it’s an opportunity to maintain that momentum and look to climb the ladder in the competition that now reaches its halfway point in the initial stages.
One thing Waugh is clear on; whatever the silverware search on offer, focus was on the task in hand, irrespective of whether that was league – or cup.
“We’ve built up a good bit of momentum in the league and there’s definitely no talk of this being a distraction from continuing that. When you go out and play a game of football, you go to win every game regardless of what competition it is in.
“Is there less pressure on it? Maybe there is. Potentially, it will allow the Gaffer to make sure that everybody’s been able to stay fresh and stay fit at this early point in the season, which has been important. And I think everybody that’s come in has really equipped themselves well. Our squad of 20 or so are on a good place at the moment.”
Waugh kicked off his career at the Easter Road side a decade ago as a youngster in the Under 17s side then stepping up to the U20s followed by progressing to the B team.
“Appreciate that there’s not going to be any players in that team that I ever played with, they’re probably closer to my brother’s age, but I still know a lot of the people that are at the football club, obviously Daz and Gareth are the two coaches of the group. Daz obviously being a first team player when I was at the club and Gareth was obviously a coach there as well.
“They are two people that I know really well, that I have got a lot of respect for and that have helped my career, especially when I was at Hibs, so, yeah, it’ll be nice to see them again.
“It probably will be a little bit strange but for me, it’s all about the job on the pitch and no doubt a chance for a catch up with some of those old familiar faces afterwards upstairs.”
