HIBS manager Shaun Maloney admits he still regularly speaks to Brendan Rodgers as he attempts to succeed in his maiden dugout position.

During his trophy-laden spell as Celtic boss, Rodgers gave Maloney his first coaching break by appointing the former Scotland forward to look after the club’s B team in 2017.

Maloney went on to hone his coaching skills under Belgium manager Roberto Martinez before replacing Jack Ross at Easter Road in December.

And Maloney, who has only been able to mastermind one Premiership victory from 12 games ahead of the Hearts derby double header, admits he remains indebted to Leicester City manager Rodgers for the support he got and still receives.

Maloney said: “I was very fortunate, I retired and within about four or five days I spoke to Brendan Rodgers and there was an opening in their B team. 

"I had breakfast with him and at the end of breakfast he offered me the job so I was extremely fortunate. 

“It was an amazing year for the club and we had a very special manager, Brendan was and still is a fantastic manager and it was something I really took a lesson from, he had time for everyone. 

“As a young coach at any time I could knock on his door and ask about my own team or the performance of the first team. 

“It was really interesting to speak to him about the first team going to places domestically and being a big favourite and then the European side where you play PSG and Bayern Munich and it’s almost the complete opposite. 

“I will be forever grateful to Brendan for giving me the opportunity and it was an amazing year to see him work as a manager.

“I took massive amounts from that and I still do, I still speak to him a lot. 

“It was the belief he had and where he wanted to take the club. There were moments it was very good, there were some dips but he never lost belief over where he thought the team could go. 

“It’s something, a massive lesson I’ve taken and definitely taking those lessons now.”

Maloney, meanwhile, is adamant that his side are more than capable of upsetting the odds by claiming a derby double.

Hibs travel to Tynecastle tomorrow in league action before taking on their city rivals, who are some 16 points better off in the table, in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden a week later.

Maloney, speaking at a Hibs fans event, said: “I think we’ve got a very good chance (of winning the Scottish Cup). 

“We’ve given ourselves that opportunity. 

“Anything can happen at Hampden, we are more capable of beating Hearts this weekend and at Hampden. I think we have to be honest, it can go either way.

“We have to be at our very best, both defensively and attacking. 

“The mood is good, the players are aware of what we need to do to prepare us for this match, I think the semi-final will be very different.

“I really want the players to go and show their personality at Tynecastle.”