You're always looking to go one step further and I'm an ambitious boy.

You always need to be on your toes.

I'm going from Somerset Park one week to Wembley the next. It's crazy but that's football. You don't get to where you want to be without going through all these different places.

You are professional so you want to win every game you play.

If we can get Hibs into European football it would be massive for everyone involved.

You just want to prove people wrong and, over time, people start believing in you.

Playing away from home in Europe is never easy.

Sometimes in football you have to take risks.

In football you can take the praise when it comes, but you've got to be ready to take the criticism as well.

I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.

Two-footed players always get a lot more recognition, so I always practised as a kid with my right foot.

I remember when I was at St Mirren someone called me the ugliest thing they had seen at Tynecastle, and two minutes later I scored - it was brilliant. I just laugh it off - I agree with them most of the time!

A lot of players and pundits can be talking the Scottish league down and it's not until players and coaches actually experience it they start respecting it.

I remember when I was training with St Mirren as a young boy Ralston was my Hampden and my Wembley.

I want to play for Scotland at a major tournament, that is the dream and the drive for me.

You cannot look back and think what if.

I'm the kind of guy who always gives 100 per cent.

I look at the likes of Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown and they're just normal people. They are humble and work away to become the best they can. That's the path I've tried to follow.

To be honest, I had a brilliant group of players at Hibs and the support were very fair with me. They didn't make it difficult.

Opponents know how to get the fouls and it's gone against me a couple of times.

If you are going to be successful in football you have to make sacrifices and that's something I am happy to do.

Alan Hutton and I are always fighting the corner for Scottish football. It's a really tough league down here with a lot of quality players trying to get into the Premier League.

You work so hard to get to a level and you need to grab your chance with both hands.

You have to be able to deal with the pressures that playing for a big club like Hibs brings and it's not for everyone.