Every word from Nick Montgomery Hibs Q&A ahead of Aberdeen

Is Jimmy Jeggo OK after being sick on the pitch?

Before the game he felt a dodgy stomach and during the game he threw up on the pitch so I felt at that point it was best to take him off and get him right for the weekend. Fingers crossed he will be good for Saturday. Jimmy’s a soldier, a resilient player and not someone ever whinges about anything, really low maintenance. It didn’t surprise me about him but at that point I felt he needed to come off. 

How important has he become for you? Others have been out of the team but he's been a constant...

"He has been really consistent and does a lot of the work that people maybe don’t see, picks up a lot of second balls and keeps things moving and he works really hard - a team player. Him and Joe have struck up a partnership and hopefully they will be fit for the game.

What are your memories of your two semi-finals with Sheffield United in 2003?

"To get to the semi-final of the FA Cup and League Cup as a player was something that I look back on with good memories. We beat Liverpool at Bramall Lane then lost the second leg and went out in that semi-final. To get to the semi-final against Arsenal at Old Trafford, I don’t know if anyone can remember the goal Arsenal scored would have been disallowed if it was into today’s game. The referee tackled one of our players and Arsenal advanced through and scored a goal. Neil Warnock was not very happy with that at full-time but we were so close to getting to a final. To lose to two teams like Arsenal and Liverpool, it was disappointing not getting to the final and I think it was a great achievement we got to them in the same season. I don’t like losing any game, getting to a final is a big occasion so I would say losing in a final rather than a semi-final is worse. 

Was there some Neil Warnock managerial magic involved in that run?

"We were a Championship team at the time. We got to the play-off final as well that season and lost in all. Without actually getting promotion, which was the main objective, it was a great experience. I think we played 65 games that season, a lot of games in one season, a lot of ups and ultimately at the end we finished empty handed but I take great experience from those games and beating the big teams at Bramall Lane. Neil was all about team spirit and camaraderie and I’m really happy we’ve got a lot of that here and that is one thing I have been impressed with.

The referee colliding with a player, you'll have seen that happened at Dundee this week...

"I saw that. If you look back, it also happened to us the other night – the referee got in the way. Anything that affects how the game is going the game is stopped and it is a drop ball. 100 per cent the game would have been stopped. Neil Warnock is still going on about it now. I cannot remember the referee’s name but if you Google it and watch it was unbelievable when you look back. I think Freddie Ljungberg got on the end of a shot shortly afterwards but it should never have happened, and we lost the game. So yes. I can laugh about it now but it was definitely not funny on the day!  

Can you take those semi-final experiences as a player into being a manager?

"I think so. You take all the experiences you had as a player into management. And like any big game, it is easy to say but the team that turns up on the day and performs under the pressure of the occasion normally succeeds. I think we have enough experience and good young lads and that can be helped by the experienced boys. I think we have a good mixture of youth and experience.  But ultimately we will find that out after the final whistle tomorrow. 

How important is it to have guys in the Hibs dressing room with experience of these games?

"It’s good to have a good mix, there are boys who have played in big games and played at Hampden. There are also young boys, a couple of 16 year-olds who have hardly experienced playing in the SPFL so it’s another experience for them whether they are on the bench or not. These are experiences that really help the players in their development and on the day you want the boys that have played to lead that on the field.  It’s a semi-final, there is more riding on it and you hope those boys step up on the day and give that calming influence, which we need.

You were at Hampden for Scotland vs England in September, did you get a feel for the place?

"You got a sense of the history, a good atmosphere and quite a lot of booing with Scotland - England fans. Probably some of that not warranted! It’s an iconic stadium and has a lot of history so really looking forward to getting in the inner sanctum with the team and preparing the team to go out in the semi-final.

This is a big chance for teams out with the Old Firm to win silverware...

"Obviously Celtic are out.  No one doubts Celtic were the best team in the competition so the fact they are not in the semi final it definitely means there is a good a chance of getting to the final. And whoever gets there deserves to be there. They are one off games. Again, sometimes form goes out the window. It is a 90-minute game with a place in the final up for grabs. May the best two teams get to the final, and deservedly so. 

Does the 5.15pm kick-off change preparations?

"It does not matter what time the game kicks off. Obviously we will prepare. It is just a little bit of a change in the schedule of the boys.  It gives them a little more time to prepare because normally the kick offs are 3pm in the afternoon. It is something I am sure many of them have experienced before and hopefully that can help draw a big TV crowd as well. 

Are David Marshall and Joe Newell likely to be back in the team? 

"They are all in contention. Like I said before, we had a couple of boys carrying niggles on Tuesday night and in consultation with the medical staff, every time it is a risk if you have boys carrying little knocks and going into this game and two games next week, it was not about resting people ahead of the semi-final, we have three games coming up before the next break.

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Ultimately I make the decision not to take the risk. They are all fully fit now and raring to go for tomorrow’s game and also next week. It is never easy picking a team. Unfortunately we conceded a late goal but a positive was some boys got minutes who have not been playing regularly recently and that can only bode well going into the busy week we have coming up. 

Fans' use of pyro has been a big topic this week - do you have a view on its use?

"It is not something I can comment on. It is not something I can control. If the authorities do not want that then hopefully the fans can respect that and just turn up and enjoy the occasion. 

Finally, have you heard from Neil Warnock?

"Yes, when I got the job I spoke to him. He said if we got to the final he would come. Fingers crossed we can do that and I will send him a ticket!"