CIS final glory went to my head and turned me into Billy Big-time Says LEWIS STEVENSON.

Byline: SCOTT McDERMOTT

LEWIS STEVENSON insists he's a better player now than when he took Scottish football by storm and led Hibs to their first trophy in 16 years.

Stevenson was a revelation when John Collins made him an Easter Road regular when he was just 18.

Within months he was strutting round Hampden Park as if he'd been playing there all his life in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock.

But the 20-year-old looks back at re-runs of that 2007 CIS Cup Final and can't believe how bad hewas - even though he lifted the man-of-the-match award.

Lewis admits he peaked too early, that the hype went to his head and he's suffered ever since. The Scotland U-21 star is struggling to get a game for new Hibees gaffer Mixu Paatelainen and it seems he is a peripheral figure in the Finn's plans.

To Stevenson's credit he has not sulked.

Instead, he's worked to improve parts of his game that weren't in his armoury when he walked off with the CIS Cup champagne 17 months ago.

He's prepared to work harder than ever to force his way in to the Easter Road side and prove his spell out of the limelight has actually done him good.

Lewis said: "All the hype and praise came a bit too early and it went to my head.

"I thought I'd be playing every week but I know now I have no right to expect that.

"Even when I was playing in the first team I always felt there were boys better than me who weren't in the team. So I knew I'd have a spell of not playing. I just hoped I could have come out of it quicker than I have.

"My head's not down, I'm still enjoying training. I actually feel I'm a better player now than when I played in that cup final.

"Because I've not been playing I've been practising more. Back then I couldn't kick at all with my right foot.

"I'm also more attacking now - Mixu and Donald Park told me to work on that and I feel a much better player for it. I'm fitter and stronger than ever.

"Hopefully that will show when I get back in the team.

"I'll be like a different player. I've looked back at games I played in and wonder what I actually did to get praise. I just ran about a lot!

"Now I'm more composed on the ball and hopefully more of a goal threat because I didn't score at all during my first spell.

"I'm not daft, I won't go in a huff when I'm not playing.

"I have three years left onmy contract so have plenty of time to prove myself."

Hibs kid Paul Hanlon at 18 is now attracting the same kind of adulation and attention as Lewis did when he burst on the scene.

At just 20, Stevenson admits he feels old watching his mate excel at left back.

But he's adamant, Paatelainen WILL give him a chance and that's why he's got no interest in leaving.

Lewis said: "Hanlon has done brilliant, our most consistent player through pre-season.

"Age isn't an issue with the manager, people just used that as an excuse saying the young boys wouldn't get a game.

"But Paul and Ross Chisholm have shown that's not the case. I'm only 20 and feel old sometimes.

"I wouldn't say I help Hanlon - Paul would look at me a bit funny if I tried that. As if I'm an experienced pro!

"I just compliment him. When you've got confidence, you play really well and that's what's happened with him.

"I'm not the kind of guy to tell folk what to do but I have told him how well he is playing.

"I've thought about a loan move but wouldn't go now. If I'm still not playing in January then I'd try it for six months if teams were willing to take me.

"But I don't believe I'm too far away from the first team so I'd rather stay at Hibs."

Stevenson feels the fierce criticism Paatelainen and his players received in pre-season was the kick up the backside they needed. One of Lewis' few starts in the close season came in the 6-0 hammering at the hands of Barcelona.

But he insists Hibs have now fully recovered from that rout and are hell-bent on proving the doubters wrong this season.

He said: "Some of the criticism we got during the summer was a bit over the top.

"We didn't play well but it was only pre-season.

"We've only won one game, against Falkirk, but that's been enough for most people to forget about what went before.

"After a couple of wins no-one will care we only scored two goals in pre-season. The stick was a bit harsh but maybe we needed it because the form was bad.

"The Barca game was shattering. I've never felt so bad after a football match in my life.

"I was buzzing because it was my first start in ages but it was frightening how good they were against us.

"I was up against Marc Crosas in midfield but then told to double up on Lionel Messi.

"What a shift that was!"

CAPTION(S):

I was a Lewis cannon: Stevenson won the CIS Cup for John Collins at 18 (inset) but admits he needed to buckle down; Mixu: Told Lewis to hone attacking edge