Hibs explore Chelsea link

Chelsea have already made moves to bring two of Hibs' youth players to Stamford Bridge to be assessed whilst Tony Mowbray hopes to bring one or more Chelsea players to Easter Road through loan deals in January.

Mowbray confirmed yesterday that he had been in contact with officials at Stamford Bridge but denied that the discussions concerned Youth Academy director John Park leaving Easter Road for London.

Sources have now revealed that Mowbray is keen to forge another link with Chelsea after the previous loan deal which saw Craig Rocastle move to Hibs last season.

A source said today: "I know there have been discussions between Chelsea and Tony Mowbray and it's to do with the clubs trying to feed players to each other.

"They had success going down that road before with Craig Rocastle doing well for six months in Edinburgh so there is obviously contact there which Hibs are hoping to benefit from to strengthen their squad."

Meanwhile, Mowbray has promised those on the periphery of his first-team squad that their big chance will arrive tonight in Northern Ireland.

The Easter Road side, minus those recruited by Scotland's full and under-21 sides, are in the tiny Co Derry village of Drumahoe this evening for a friendly with Institute, the former club of Ivan Sproule.

The match was arranged as part of the 5000 deal which took Sproule to Easter Road earlier this year, and forms part of Institute's Centenary celebrations at their Riverside Stadium.

Mowbray fully intends to utilise the occasion to hand valued match action to some of the Hibs players who have not featured prominently in the first team of late.

Midfielders Stephen Glass and Antonio Murray along with goalkeeper Simon Brown are all expected to feature on the other side of the Irish Sea.

Mowbray said: "We have a certain number of senior players who do need some football so we will attempt to give them that with this match. But everybody who is eligible has travelled.

"We will have to see come the kick-off what team we feel is best to put out. Possibly we could use some younger players like we did in pre-season, but some of our first-team members need games and with no reserve matches for the next week or two we need to make sure people are kept ticking over.

"The match should prove a good exercise for us and the players who haven't been involved will have a chance to impress."

The match will also be a special occasion for the Sproule family. With Ivan expected to be in the stand as guest of honour before returning to his preparations for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Wales on Saturday, his brother Gareth will likely be on the field in his role as a key midfielder for Institute.

Kevin Thomson will not play any part in the match for Hibs after reporting an ankle knock to the Scotland Under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof.

The left-footed midfielder is now considered a serious doubt for the young Scots' matches with Belarus and Slovenia this Friday and the following Tuesday and as such he will be precluded from any involvement in Northern Ireland.