The smile couldn't be wider; the considered answers in the post-match press conference belying his tender years. 'Special' is the word that keeps coming up, and 'special' would be the perfect way of summing up Rudi Molotnikov's first competitive start for his boyhood heroes Hibernian at Easter Road: his first senior goal, in a 5-1 victory. 

At a time when Hibs are recovering from a string of managers in a short space of time, are in the middle of what will be a drawn-out squad transformation, and are still finding their feet under new head coach David Gray, Molotnikov's rise from literal Hibs kid to academy player to first-team starter has been a chink of light in the gloom. And, best of all, his family were in the stand this time, having missed his senior debut at Aston Villa, his first senior start at Forfar, and his first start under Gray at Elgin City at the weekend. 

"It was amazing, I couldn't have asked for it to go any better - a 5-1 win and a goal on my first competitive start at Easter Road. I can't remember much about the goal; it all happened so quickly. I just remember seeing the ball beating the keeper and turning around to see all the fans. My family was in the stand too so it was really special," he said, speaking afterwards.

"Unfortunately, on Saturday, they had a family event, and my mum was ill on Tuesday night! But my dad and my sister, and her boyfriend, were all in the stand. So it was special for them to be there."

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Not only was Molotnikov trusted with a second consecutive start against Queen's Park and keeping Élie Youan out of the team, he was up against a seasoned defender in Cammy Kerr and in a slightly unusual position of left-wing, when he is mostly found in the central areas. But none of these factors phased him whatsoever, and knowing he has the trust of the head coach - the man who gave him his senior debut during his third interim spell in charge - has helped to settle the attacker. 

"He has just let me be me, really. I think the players who have come around me and made me feel part of this team, they've allowed me to express myself and be myself as a player. The gaffer has made me feel like I'm at home, and that this is where he wants me to be, which has helped," Molotnikov added. 

"It's nice to hear the manager speaking about me positively. He has helped me a lot, but it's only been two matches. Every player has to believe in themselves, but you can't be too big-headed, you can't think beyond what is happening or look too far into the future. You have to just stay level-headed and do what you can, be in the moment.  I think I've done that."

A loan spell with Stirling Albion in the second half of last season allowed him to gain further experience of first-team football, even if he didn't get as much gametime as he might have liked.

"Stirling was obviously a massive learning curve, probably more so because I didn't play much. I think I learned a lot - I learned what it's like to be on the end of that, and what it's like to experience relegation; that was a big part of it."

Only recently turned 18, Molotnikov - who came through the ranks at Loanhead Miners and Lochend before being picked up by Hibs as a ten-year-old - is now ineligible for the club's under-18s. Another loan spell might have been an option but he was one of just three youngsters along with Kanayo Megwa and Rory Whittaker who joined the first-team squad at their pre-season training camp in the Netherlands, and encouragement from dad Justin. 

"A loan was always a possibility, but my dad really pushed me towards the better option - staying here and pushing myself to be a starting player for Hibs. He really helped me with that. When my time in the 18s finished, I did have that moment where you think, 'Right, what do I do now?' But I'm happy with how it's gone so far."

The joy in his goal celebration was palpable, not just from Molotnikov himself but from his team-mates. But while the likes of Paul Hanlon helped bring through Ryan Porteous, and Lewis Stevenson was an invaluable mentor for Josh Doig, Molotnikov has enjoyed the support of all his team-mates, such is the close-knit nature of the squad. 

" They've all been great with me, great with the other young boys, and brilliant with the new players, helping them settle quickly. We're a really good team at the moment, I feel," he continued. 

"This is my second experience of being around the first team group regularly. It's been a big change. But I feel really comfortable in myself right now. There are a lot more games to come, hopefully, and I've got to keep proving to myself, and proving to the manager, that I should be starting each game. Hopefully I do. Then we'll take it from there."