Jorge Claros out of Hibs’ Cup clash – if he stays

By DAVID HARDIE
Published on 24/01/2013 12:00

Hibs are set to be without Jorge Claros for the William Hill Scottish Cup clash with 
Aberdeen even if the Easter Road outfit are successful 
in their bid to extend the 
Honduran star’s loan deal.

The clock is ticking on the 27-year-old’s stay in Edinburgh, the year-long agreement he signed due to end on January 29 which means Sunday’s trip to Pittodrie on SPL business could be his last in a green and white shirt.

Hibs boss Pat Fenlon, though, is keen to keep Claros until the end of the season but negotiations with his parent club 
Motagua, where he has 18 months of his current contract to run, have proved lengthy and, thus far, unsuccessful.

Chairman Rod Petrie has been in charge of the matter but while Fenlon revealed he had hoped to learn Claros’ fate early this week as the January transfer window deadline draws ever closer, there has been no news one way or the other.

However, the Evening News has learned that even if Claros is given the green light to remain in Edinburgh he’ll soon be heading back to his homeland on international duty.

Honduras are due to play the first match of their final qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in Brazil on Wednesday, February 6, just three days after Hibs face the Dons Easter Road and, given the distance and time involved in travelling to Central America, there’s little likelihood of him being 
available for the Cup match.

Although he’d fallen out of Honduran coach Luis Fernando Suarez’s plans, Claros’ early season performances for Hibs earned him an international recall as he played in his country’s final four qualifying matches, including an astonishing 8-1 win over Canada in their last game which earned them a place in a six-nation shoot-out for a place in Rio. Honduras open that campaign with a home game against the United States and Claros is expected to be called up for it within the next few days.

Meanwhile, former Rangers winger Gregg Wylde is the latest player to be linked with a move to Easter Road. The 21-year-old left the Ibrox club last February as they entered administration before joining Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal.

He has been out on loan at English League One side Bury but, as he has not played for Bolton this season, would be eligible to turn out for Hibs.

Wylde would fit the bill as the wide player Fenlon has been seeking and he’d find a raft of familiar faces within the Easter Road dressing-room in the shape of former Scotland Under-21 team-mates Paul Hanlon, David Wotherspoon and Leigh Griffiths.

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