Hibs boss John Collins is delighted with the form of rookie defender Darren McCormack.

The youngster made his SPL debut in Hibs' 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock and Collins said: "I actually wasn't aware Saturday was Darren's birthday when I told him he'd be playing against Kilmarnock so that was a double bonus for him.

"He did very well, he passed the ball, he wanted it, he won his headers. He has a lot of talent but he has to keep working hard.

"Darren has made a lot of progress in the last couple of months alone. He's training with the first team every day and when you are being pushed by the likes of Steven Fletcher, Dean Shiels, Abdessalam Benjelloun and Clayton Donaldson that brings you to another level.

"We've been working hard on Darren to control his aggression, to use it properly but I'd have no problem at all in throwing him in at Ibrox. Only time will tell, but I'm sure he would take it in his stride. If you want to be a top player you have to revel playing in front of 50,000, rise to the big crowd and the atmosphere."