Mccann Is No Back Seat Driver

Nov 4 2007 By Gordon Waddell

KEVIN McCANN has only one start in an Edinburgh derby to his name - but he's had seven years of dress rehearsals.

And the 20-year-old Hibs full-back reckons he has gone toe-to-toe with Jambos wing wonder Andy Driver in all of them.

Driver, 20 this week, and Kevin were born just two months apart and climbed the ranks together, squaring up on the same flank every season from under-14s on.

Now they are top-team regulars but McCann claims it won't change the stakes in their personal two-man battle.

He laughed: "I've faced Andy hundreds of times. We've played from age 13 all the way through.

"He's a quality player and every time we've gone up against each other it has been a tough match.

"I'd say we're just about equal in our clashes so far but hopefully I can come out on top this time.

"The great thing is there is an edge to these games even at youth level. Derby day is derby day no matter what age you are.

"Obviously once you play for the first team the passion is at a different level.

"My first experience of it was at Tynecastle late last season. I came off the bench and although we ended up losing I vowed next time we'd do better - and we did. It was a good feeling to win there in August."