Hanlon happy to be left back in reserve after Zarabi arrival

Published on Saturday 16 February 2008 10:14

HIBS kid Paul Hanlon today welcomed the arrival of Algerian internationalist Abdel Zarabi to Easter Road – even if it means a tougher fight for a place.

Zarabi finally made his debut following his move from FC Gueugnon as Hibs ended their miserable run of SPL results with a victory over Gretna.

The 28-year-old, capped 26 times by his country including facing Brazil and Argentina over the past 12 months, slotted in at left-back with Hanlon sidelined by a hip injury picked up in the draw against Dundee United.

Overall Zarabi impressed in his first SPL match, Paatelainen having turned his attention to a player he had tried to sign for Finnish club TPS Turku after David Murphy's move to Birmingham City.

Although 18-year-old Hanlon was Murphy's immediate replacement, making his debut in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and turning in an equally impressive performance against Rangers in the next round, the youngster freely accepts his manager's need for experience.

And while he is ready to battle Zarabi for that particular berth, Hanlon also believes limited exposure to top flight football will help prevent him suffering from burn-out normally associated with youngsters who are over-played.

Ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Aberdeen, he said: "I am ambitious and want as many games as I can get but because of my age and us having other players in the same position, I won't play every week and I do not expect to. Quite a few young players come in and out of a side and it will be the same for me. There's a bit of competition for the jersey and that's what I wanted because I've seen the toll playing week in, week out has had on other players.

"I don't expect too much, I wait to see what happens. If it happens I'm delighted but if I'm not in the squad I don't get too down because I hadn't even played too many reserve games for the club."

Even so, Hanlon had, unknown to himself, caught the eye of reserve team coach Gareth Evans, who had quietly marked him down as a youngster who could well be playing first team football before the season was out.

Even so, even Evans could hardly have envisaged just how rapid the former Tynecastle High School pupil's promotion would be, Hanlon being catapulted into action in what was Paatelainen's first match in charge.

The Hibs boss revealed he had no hesitation in playing Hanlon, having sounded out both Evans and youth academy coach Alistair Stevenson.

He said: "We had a little problem at that time, David Murphy and Lewis Stevenson were injured but Paul had done well in the two days' training I had seen.

"I asked Gareth about him, he told me he had played well in the reserves, Alistair said he could handle the situation no problem and that did make my mind up.

"Paul is very level-headed, he does not get fazed by big crowds although he is very young. He is aggressive, he is can pass the ball okay although he needs to improve that, he's a good defender and another young player who has come through the ranks."

Hanlon's performances with Hutcheson Vale Boys' Club had attracted a number of clubs but when the life-long Hibs fan learned his boyhood heroes were interested, there was no question as to where his future lay.

He said: "Although I was playing myself they were mostly Sunday games which meant I could see most Hibs matches. I didn't have any heroes although I admired the flair of Franck Sauzee, the cool head he showed in defence and I try to play that way."

Hanlon is keenly aware of Hibs' seemingly endless stream of young talent which has been nurtured at Easter Road before moving on and that supporters are anxiously waiting to see what's in the pipeline to replace them.

He said: "I suppose it does bring a wee bit pressure, the fans have seen it and want more of it.

"I just have to deal with it but the fans have been brilliant, it's like a new signing when a young player comes through and they help you as much as they can and I'm grateful for that.

"But there are a lot of young players at the club who have the ability and potential to be the next generation of players at Hibs."