If one were to draw up a list of early contenders for the 2008-09 Malta FA Footballer of the Year award, Clayton Failla would surely be on top of it. The young Hibs wing-back has been the most outstanding player in the Premier League this season, an assertion backed not only by his match-winning performances for the high-flying Paolites and his nomination as BOV Player of the Month for August and October, but also by his ascent to Malta's national squad.

A product of St Patrick, Failla has long been regarded as one of the brightest talents in Maltese football as his speed on the overlap and his uncompromising approach set him apart from most of his peers.

A prominent Hibs official once told me that his insistence that the Premier League club's hierarchy left no stone unturned in their bid to sign Failla from St Patrick, had caused a few eyebrows to be raised. However, his towering impact on the team this season has vindicated the Paolites' decision to take him on board in January 2005.

Failla didn't have to wait long to break into Hibs' starting XI but as happens to most young players, he alternated brilliant performances with some mediocre ones in his first two seasons with the Paolites.

The story has been different so far this term as Failla has been one of the most consistent players for his team. He attributes this transformation to the change in his playing role from left-back to wide midfield and the appointment of Mark Miller as coach of Hibs.

"I think that the left-midfield position suits me better," Failla told The Times. "I prefer to play on the wing rather than at left-back because this role gives me more freedom to attack.

"The coach, Mark Miller, has also played a crucial role in helping me to raise my game this season. I mean Miller was my coach with the Malta U-21 team for many years and he knows me better than most."

Last Sunday, Failla crowned another man-of-the-match performance by scoring Hibs' second goal, his third in the league this season, in a straightforward 2-0 win over Msida St Joseph, a result that lifted Miller's team to third place in the standings, level on 16 points with champions Valletta.

A combination of Miller's positive effect on the Hibs squad, Failla's coming of age and the impact of the new foreign players has heightened hopes among the fans that the Paolites can regain their status as one of the top teams in Maltese football.

Failla is highly optimistic that Hibs will finish in the top four this season but he also urged caution.

"The league is very balanced this year and the teams are very close to each other," Failla opined. "All teams have shown that they can beat anyone on their day.

"As far as Hibs are concerned, I certainly believe that we can claim a top-four position. If we fail to do that, it would be a disaster for us because we've got the squad to challenge for high targets."

Invited to explain the reasons for his optimism, Failla replied: "The foreign players are making a very good contribution to the team this season and the squad is more united."

Failla's down-to-earth approach is widely considered as one of his strongest attributes but beneath his softly-spoken tones lies a determination to advance as far as he can in his career.

His switch from St Patrick to Hibs in 2005 was considered a massive leap for Failla at the time but he insists that his sights were always set on playing at the top level of Maltese football.

"Even when I was with St Patrick, my ambition was to play at the top level of Maltese football with one of the most prominent clubs on the islands," Failla commented.

"In football, as in life, nothing comes easily and you have to work hard to reach your goals. I guess that patience and dedication have enabled me to progress in my career but I've still got a long way to go."

Last month, Failla made another important breakthrough in his career when making his debut for Malta in the 1-0 defeat to Iceland in a friendly match at the Hibs Ground.

Unflustered by the pressure of playing the first match for Malta at international level, Failla turned in a tenacious display, first at left-back and, in the second half, on the left of midfield.

"It has always been an ambition of mine to play for the national team," Failla, 22, said. "Having played several matches for the U-21s, the next step was to get into the senior squad. I was glad to make my debut for Malta against Iceland. The match was not easy because the level of international football is obviously higher than U-21 but I felt I had a positive outing.

"My immediate priority is to keep my place in the squad."

The restrictions imposed by Malta's geographic smallness are often cited as the main cause of our nation's slow progress in international football but it is equally true that, over the years, this country has produced more than its fair share of naturally-gifted players.

Very few have managed to make a decent living out of football but the majority don't get the opportunity to play on a professional basis. There's no disputing the fact that the level of club football in Malta as well as that of the national team would rise by a few notches if more players are given the chance to concentrate solely on football.

As one of the country's most promising prospects, Failla would certainly benefit if he had the financial backing to turn professional but he knows that is hard to achieve.

"I would love to play football on a full-time basis as that would surely help me to further raise my standards but in Malta, opportunities are very limited," Failla said.

After his lively showing for Malta against Iceland, Failla was singled out for praise by national coach Dusan Fitzel who later revealed that efforts are being made to bring the country's upcoming talents to the attention of foreign clubs.

"I wish to play abroad in the future but I'm not thinking much about it to be honest," Failla, who is a Manchester United fan, said.

"If I had to receive an offer to join a foreign club, I would evaluate it carefully because I wouldn't want to end up playing in a league that is of the same level or inferior to our Premier League."

As my telephone interview with Failla was nearing its end, he made it a point to thank his family and girlfriend for their invaluable support.

"I want to show my gratitude to my family and my girlfriend for the sacrifices they're making to ensure that I never lose focus on my career," he said.