Dnipro chiefs run scared of Hibs super sub Sproule

The Ukrainian outfit dispatched general manager Andriy Stetsenko and assistant coach Vadym Tyshchenko to Edinburgh to watch Tony Mowbray's players in action against Dundee United.

And they left for home raving about the 24-year-old Northern Ireland internationalist who, having scored a hat-trick at Ibrox a fortnight earlier, struck the winner to make it four successive victories for Hibs ahead of Thursday night's first-round tie.

Stetsenko revealed Dnipro were well aware of Sproule's stunning goal spree against Rangers - and admitted he was baffled that he hadn't been on from the start against United.

He said: "I don't think I have ever seen a football player so fast. We knew he had scored three against Rangers and having done that I was surprised he didn't start this match."

Dnipro have obviously been doing their homework on Hibs just as Mowbray has on them with Stetsenko disclosing he was well aware of the fact that only nine months ago Sproule was playing part-time football in Northern Ireland.

But he added: "He's a very interesting player and one I think could be a problem for us because he is so fast."

When the draw was made two weeks ago, Stetsenko insisted it was the best possible outcome for Dnipro, who reached the last 32 of last season's UEFA Cup and, given that the likes of Sampdoria, Seville, Basel and Feyenoord were all possible opponents, he says he's still of that view.

However, he stressed that didn't mean Dnipro were taking the threat of Hibs lightly.

He said: "I thought Scott Brown and Dean Shiels on the flanks were good, as was the left-back David Murphy, but I felt Hibs were even better when Sproule and Derek Riordan came on.

"We felt Hibs would be strong opponents and now, having seen them, we are sure they will be difficult opponents in what is a very fine stadium - we had a good look round and we were very impressed by what we saw."

Dnipro's poor start to the season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Vorskla yesterday. They now lie 12th in the Vysha Liga having won just two of their eight matches.

Today Mowbray revealed he was already analysing that match, saying: "They made a few changes from the team we watched a couple of weeks ago and we'll have a closer look at it as I'd imagine they'll probably have played a different shape given the players they used yesterday."

Murphy picked up a knock during Saturday's win but Mowbray believes that with treatment he will be fit to face Dnipro.

Meanwhile, only 1800 tickets remain for the match.