Zemmama doubtful for visit of St Mirren

Published on Monday 10 August 2009 22:48

MEROUANE Zemmama's last meaningful goal in a Hibs shirt came against St Mirren in April 2008 and was voted goal of the season in the SPL, but the Moroccan may be denied the chance to try and repeat the feat against the Paisley side on Saturday.

Zemmama is included in a list of possible absentees for the SPL curtain-raiser at Easter Road, with manager John Hughes fretting over the fitness of a number of his players for Saturday.

Zemmama, who returned to the club this season following his loan spell in the Middle East, had been in impressive form during pre-season, but strained his thigh in training on Friday and was left out of the 0-0 draw at Bolton on Saturday. He will be assessed along with Jonatan Johansson before Hughes finalises his squad for the visit of St Mirren.

Young striker Kurtis Byrne also hopes to make the squad as he recovers from minor surgery. Byrne, who was given plenty of game-time by Hughes during the warm-up matches before his surgery, told Hibs' website: "I thought my pre-season was going very well – but I knew that if I did not get this sorted now then it would cause me all sorts of problems later in the season, so it seemed sensible to remain in Edinburgh last week.

"The aim, though, is to get straight back to training this week and I'm still hoping to be ready in time for the St Mirren game."