Mixu sure Sol will be fine at centre-back for Hibs

Published on Friday 17 October 2008 10:34

HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen today insisted he would have no fears over asking Sol Bamba to fill the gap left by Chris Hogg this weekend – but played his cards close to his chest over a possible line-up for the visit of Hearts.

The Easter Road side are likely to have a central defensive partnership of Bamba and skipper Rob Jones for Sunday's derby match after losing Hogg to illness earlier this week.

Hogg has been ruled out of the match on medical advice after suffering headaches and blurred vision following a head knock he sustained in the Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat against Morton in August.

Bamba has been played in midfield for Hibs since signing in the summer but played in the centre of defence for his old club Dunfermline. Paatelainen said: "There is nothing we can do about losing Chris, those are the doctor's orders and we have to stick by them, just like we would with any other injury.

"Sol is a quality player and very committed. Supporters like to see players who win their battles whether it is in the air or on the pitch and Sol is certainly one of them. We have played him in midfield recently but his position with Dunfermline was in the centre of defence

"We know that he can play in there and his height gives us something in the air as well."

The Easter Road side played three up front in their last league outing against Aberdeen a fortnight ago, a game in which Derek Riordan netted a double to send Hibs home with all three points.

However Paatelainen was refusing to give away too much about his line-up for this weekend and added: "There are always two sides to every game, everyone talks about the goals that have been scored but it is also very important that we defend well.

"We played three up front against Aberdeen in our last match, but this weekend is a different game altogether.

"The most important thing against Aberdeen was that we won the game and that we were positive. In parts of that game we played really well, our players looked dangerous, they created chances and scored a couple of goals. But in other parts of the game Aberdeen looked dangerous and we have to make sure that we concentrate during periods like that."

The Easter Road side could have a number of derby debutants on Sunday with the likes of Colin Nish, Steven Thicot and Steve Pinau in line for a baptism of fire – and with Derek Riordan set to feature in his first Capital clash since returning to Hibs from Celtic in the summer.

However Paatelainen insisted that his players will not be fazed by the raucous atmosphere of the occasion: "When players go out on the pitch and are caught up in a game, they do not notice what is happening in the crowd. Yes, there will be a good atmosphere and the crowd will be trying to push the players forward but that is always the case, no matter who you are playing."