Hibs Head Coach Neil Lennon has confirmed that Mark Oxley is in talks with Southend and that he will be comfortable selecting Otso Virtanen in the Europa League second qualifying round, first leg tie against Danish side Brondby at Easter Road next week.
Hibs currently have Virtanen and Ross Laidlaw on his books as well as 19 year-old Alex Palmer who is on trial from West Bromwich Albion.
Palmer will get a chance to impress on Sunday against Motherwell although Lennon will be at the European Championships final between France and Portugal fulfilling media contract duties.
Speaking after Hibs’ 6-1 win over neighbours Edinburgh City Lennon said: : “Mark has got the opportunity now to go and speak to Southend and it’s up to him and Southend now whether the deal goes through.
“I am really comfortable with playing Otso in goal in Europe. I have not had the opportunity to see what he can do. Otso has had 100 games at Finnish level and he knows the Scandinavian game quite well.
“I have spoken to Alan Combe about him and he has not had an opportunity here but he will get one now. We might have a good goalkeeper right under our nose but we don’t know that yet.”
“I’ve got Alex Palmer from West Brom who came highly recommended by Jonathan Gould and we will have a look at him on Sunday and see how it goes. He is lacking experience but he looks a talent but we are actively seeking a goalkeeper and Alex is ahead of the queue at the minute.”
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.
