Hibs arrange game to get Johansson fit

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 08:58

HIBS will play a bounce game tomorrow in a bid to ensure Jonatan Johansson is firing on all cylinders for this weekend's derby clash.

The Easter Road side play host to their arch-rivals Hearts on Sunday in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.

It will be the second time the two sides have faced one another in the space of just eight days and manager Mixu Paatelainen is hoping that his new signing can prove to be the difference.

Former Rangers winger Johansson played the full 90 minutes of last weekend's 0-0 draw at Tynecastle but conceded after the match that he had not been able to push forward as much as he would have liked in the closing stages because he is still short of full match fitness.

The Finn, who joined Hibs from Malmo, missed out on the end of the Swedish league season at the end of October because of injury and, following his recuperation period and a short break, has had just three weeks of training with his new club under his belt.

A fully-fit Johansson would give Hibs an added threat – and pace – down the right in addition to Alan O'Brien on the opposite flank and Paatelainen revealed that Hibs will do everything they can to get Johansson up to speed in time for Sunday's game, although he did not reveal who the game would be against.

The Hibs manager said: "We have got a closed-doors bounce game arranged for this week which Jonatan will play in. There are a few boys from the first-team involved and hopefully it will benefit us. Jonatan played the full 90 minutes against Heartsand I was pleased with his contribution.

"But he has only had three weeks of training in the last little while so every game he plays right now will be valuable for him."

Meanwhile, new goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski has received clearance in time to take his place in the squad for this weekend's derby at Easter Road.

The former Dundee United keeper was a free agent after coming to the end of his contract with Israeli side FC Ashdod in December and signed a six-month deal with Hibs last week.

Paatelainen is likely to start with current incumbent Yves Ma-Kalamabay. The Hibs boss added: "Grzegor's paperwork has all come through now so he is available for this weekend which is great for the team."