Hibs boss is hopeful over Alen

The Austrian, who featured as a substitute during last weekend’s 3-1 win over Livingston, was playing in an under-21 fixture against the same opposition at Almondvale yesterday afternoon when he was forced to retire early.

The midfielder appeared to be struggling with a groin problem towards the end of the first half and failed to reappear after the interval.

The exact nature of the problem was due to be assessed today although Williamson is confident the 25-year-old will be fit and available for Saturday’s visit of Kilmarnock.

He said: "Alen has played a couple of under-21 games recently and we just felt it was best to take him off. I’m sure he will be okay."

Should Orman shake off the problem it will be a boost to Williamson who has seen his midfield decimated by injuries to key players so far this season. Grant Brebner, Stephen Glass and Ian Murray have already been ruled out through long-term injury with the latter due to see a specialist tomorrow to determine whether he requires a third operation of the season.

Meanwhile, Easter Road will host Scotland’s friendly with Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, May 30.

The match will bring the curtain down on the season as national boss Berti Vogts continues to prepare for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Caribbean team will be on this side of the Atlantic to prepare for their World Cup qualifiers, and look set to bring their strongest squad to the Capital including players from the Premiership such as Stern John of Birmingham and Shaka Hislop of Portsmouth.

Trinidad also have several Scottish-based players including Marvin Andrews, Brent Sancho, Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel.

• SCOTLAND’S women face a trip into the unknown as they fly to the Ukraine for Saturday’s UEFA Qualifying match in the Crimean town of Simferopol.

The crucial match could make or break their campaign, but hopes are high after a 5-1 defeat of the Ukraine at Livingston last May. The Scots have six points from four matches, and with three home games to follow the Ukraine adventure, hopes are high of finishing second in their group to world champions Germany and reaching the UEFA Finals for the first time.

The strong Scotland side features FA Cup finalist Julie Fleeting, while under-19 star Amy McDonald of Hamilton Academical comes into the A squad for the first time.

The match kicks off at the Tavriya Stadium at 3.00pm, and the Scots depart from Glasgow tomorrow evening for the lengthy trip via London and Kiev.