Hibs' Zemmama set to be fit for the weekend

Published on Tuesday 19 January 2010 09:31

HIBS boss John Hughes today revealed he's '90 per cent certain' that midfielder Merouane Zemmama has not suffered serious injury and could even be in the frame to face Hamilton this weekend.

The little Moroccan limped out of Saturday's defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice with a tight hamstring and was sent for scans yesterday amid fears that he could be facing a four-week lay-off.

Hughes will today see the results of those scans but it seems likely that the problem is being caused by a nerve in his back tweaking his hamstring.

The Hibs boss said: "We are 90 per cent certain that it's not a tear in his hamstring and that it's coming off a nerve in his back instead.

"If his back gets tight then this nerve seems to be nipping and he thinks that his hamstring is going to go and he gets referred pain in his hamstring and buttock area.

"We will have a proper look at the scans later but if everything is okay then he could even be involved this weekend."

Hughes was at Meadowbank last night to see Montrose win through to a fifth-round Active Nations Scottish Cup clash with Hibs at the expense of Edinburgh City.

A 3-1 victory for the Third Division side will see former Hibs players Steven Tweed – now manager of Montrose – and the club's goalkeeper Andy McNeil, make a return to Easter Road.

And Hughes continued: "I enjoyed the game, even though it was played on a tricky surface and I didn't think there was much in it.

"Edinburgh gave it a right good go and it's a shame that they didn't get anything out of it.

"All credit to Montrose, though, there are a couple of former Hibees involved there in big Tweedy and McNeil and it will be good to come up against them at Easter Road."