Hibs have announced that 21 year old French winger Abdellah Zoubir has joined the club on loan from FC Istres for the 2013/14 season following a successful trial this week.
Zoubir has Ligue 2 experience in France and manager Pat Fenlon has been impressed with the player since his arrival in Edinburgh.
All the terms have been agreed and documents signed, but Zoubir will only become a registered player for the club once the documents have been accepted by the authorities and an International Transfer Certificate has been issued by the French Football Federation.
As with all cross border transfers, that could take some time, and the club will confirm via the official website and official Twitter when the transfer has been formally completed.
Meanwhile Pat Fenlon has told the players that it is imperative that the team builds on last weekend’s win at Kilmarnock with an equally positive result at home.
Speaking to Hibernian TV, Fenlon said: “I think it is important that we build on it. I said to the players last week that when you go away from home and pick up a point or you pick up three points the next game at home is vitally important. If you don’t then it undoes all the work from the previous week when you have had to work so hard away from home to get something out the game.
“We had to do that last week, we were a goal down and had to come back and win the game in the second half. If we can put another victory on top of that and get back-to-back victories away from home and at home then it’ a good week’s work for us.
“We’ve got to make sure that we start the game positively here; the one thing I’ve said after the few games we’ve played so far that we’ve got to start the games better. We’ve got to start the games on the front foot and try to take the game to the opposition.
“Ross County had a great win last week – we watched a DVD of their game against St Mirren. Obviously they will be disappointed with their Cup exit during the week, but that can spur them on as well because they will be hurting a little bit from that.
“I think in Ross County’s case they have brought a lot of players in as well, so that does take time for them to gel into a system. They’ve got a good squad of players and they’re a good team and have proven that last season as well. So we know that we are going to have to play really well to get something out of the game.”
Hibs have been drawn to face League One side Stranraer, who coincidentally knocked out County, in the third round of the Scottish League Cup (24 September, kick off 7.45pm) and the manager admits he is pleased with the draw.
He added: “We’re delighted we’re at home, I think that is the key in any cup competition – the first thing you want to be is at home, but it is a tough draw for us because obviously they’ve had a fantastic result to get into this round and they come here under no pressure.
“We’ve got to go and make sure that we get on a bit of a cup run which would be great. We’ve had a good Scottish Cup run over the past two seasons, but unfortunately in the League Cup last year there was a poor performance at Queen of the South, so it would be nice to get on a bit of a roll in the League Cup competition and progress through the rounds.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
