It is a bit early to be thinking in terms of career defining moments but Jason Cummings has no doubt about the place last year's end-of-season play-offs hold in his story so far.

A year ago the teenager looked to have settled the play-off final with two first half goals, but days later at Easter Road, after the jitters got to Hibs and allowed Hamilton to draw level in the dying seconds, taking the tie into extra time and then a shoot-out it was Cummings whose decisive penalty was saved and he is now eyeing the chance to make amends.

"It would mean everything to score the goals that take Hibs back up. Last season they started well for me, then ended with the worst thing that has ever happened in my career," he said.

"It would be amazing to put that right this year and give something back to the supporters."

Cummings admits to having found last year's events hard to deal with at the time.

"It took me a while to get over that," he said.

"I was devastated for days and couldn't face going out with my mates for weeks. I wasn't myself at all. I'm normally quite outgoing but I was just gutted and slumping around.

"I was up all night after the Hamilton game, I couldn't sleep."

He attaches no blame to Terry Butcher, for whom it was the last match in charge, explaining that he pretty much talked his way into it, while suggesting that the manager's decision to put him last of the five initial nominees was perhaps even an attempt that went wrong both to acknowledge a youngster's enthusiasm and protect him from it.

"I said to the gaffer at the time: 'I deffo want to take a pen'," Cummings explained

"He asked if I was sure and I told him I 100 per cent wanted to take one. I'd rather take the penalty than bottle it.

"I think the gaffer was thinking if he put me on the last kick, then maybe I wouldn't need to take one, but it didn't go to plan. I'm still glad he let me take it. It's made me a stronger player."

That attitude is reflected in how he has bounced back so quickly and impressively, his current boss confirming Cummings' own view that he will only have benefited from the experience in the longer term.

"He is a very jovial, confident young lad," said Alan Stubbs.

"That is a youth thing as well. When you are young you don't necessarily feel pressure. You move on from setbacks very quickly.

"I think that is where Jason has found himself. Yes, he would have been disappointed, but it has obviously made him stronger. He has learned from it. The fact he stood there and took one at that age says a lot for him as well."

It also speaks to his character that he is among very few of those involved in those play-offs who has remained a regular in the Hibs line-up this season and, given Hearts' relentless blitz on Championship defences this season, it is remarkable that he is the competition's top scorer, but Cummings' outlook is further reflected in how he now reappraises the experience.

"I've seen it a few times and people keep reminding me about it on Twitter . . . Hamilton and Hearts fans like to give it a wee mention," he observed chirpily.

"When I watch it back it just drives me on to do better next time.

"It doesn't bother me now, I managed to get over it. It's old news."

The new news is that he was presented yesterday with the SPFL Young Player of the Month award, the latest acknowledgement of form which ensures that no-one is less likely to shy away from the big moments as was evident when saying he will step up again should the need arise and is keen to be Hibs' regular penalty taker, craving any chance to score.

Like many young players he has had his moments off the field and Cummings recognises that there were lifestyle issues to be addressed.

"I think I have come on massively with the gaffer and the coaching staff, I have learned a lot," he said.

"The gym instructor we have got has put on different classes and I am eating better as well.

"Everything we do, the warm-ups, the cool downs, the food we eat is so much more professional."

That does not yet extend to the sort of guardedness that old pros might adopt in seeking to avoid helping their opponents with their team talks.

"They have kind of been our bogey team this season, I think we are due to beat them quite comfortably," was Cummings' assessment of tomorrow's meeting with Falkirk who now have nothing to gain from beating Hibs, other than protecting the season-long unbeaten record against them which they extended in the Scottish Cup semi-final a fortnight ago.

"It's not really about revenge, we just want to play them again and beat them."

It was similar when he explained how he now knew that matters are now in Hibs' hands following their 4-1 thrashing of Alloa last weekend.

"When I was playing I heard the Hibs fans singing: 'let's all laugh at Rangers!' So I figured they must be getting beat," he explained.

"When I came off the physio told me they were getting beat 2-0. I said: 'that's delightful, that.' They've managed to get a draw but it's still in our hands."

Who will have the last laugh remains to be seen this season, of course, but for now Cummings' tears are now more than a distant memory.