John Hughes delighted with shape of Hibs squad after summer break

WITH a Europa League tie looming before the end of the month, John Hughes knew that if his Hibernian squad were to be up to speed, they had to report for pre-season training in good shape.

After a week back at work, the manager has proof his players have looked after themselves, and is confident they will be ready when that first competitive match comes.

The Hibs squad head for the Netherlands next weekend for a four-game tour, but before that they have today's far shorter visit to Dunfermline to deal with. Merouane Zemmama is still unavailable because of a knee injury, Sol Bamba does not return from international duty until Monday, and Steven Thicot is a doubt because of a toe knock, but otherwise Hughes will have a full squad available to him for the trip to East End Park.

"We've been back seven days and I couldn't ask for any better," the manager said yesterday. "It's been great, The new boys are settling in, the fitness levels are great, all the fitness testing tells me they've not lost much.

"And it had to be like that. So they've all worked towards their programme in the close season.

"What we said was we've got that European tie on the 29th, so we have to be battle-hardened for that. It's a real rigorous pre-season, meticulous in our preparation for it, but for that to happen they had to come back in shape. So they all had a strenuous close-season programme, and they've stuck to it, so I'm delighted with that."

Although he has already watched his squad take part in closed-doors games against Morton and Dundee, as far as Hughes is concerned the countdown to continental competition begins this afternoon.

"We've played in a few bounce matches, and they've all had 90 minutes, but the first real one is against Dunfermline. That's us starting to get into the sharp stuff. We'll try to give everyone a game."

Having made Michael Hart his third close-season signing this week, Hughes may have completed his spending for the summer.

The addition of Dutchman Edwin de Graaf has given some much-needed physicality to the midfield, teenage defender David Stephens has impressed with his maturity, and Hart is expected to be the answer at right-back, one of the most problematic positions for Hughes last season. The manager is not ruling out another move into the transfer market, but at present has nothing planned.

"Not at this moment in time," he said when asked if more signings were in the pipeline. "I'm delighted with what we've got, In Edwin and Harty we've got two good experienced boys in there - been there, done it, played at a right good level, nothing will faze them. I just felt we needed that - not just two good experienced players, but two really good professionals.

"Edwin will get in at the back post and score goals, a wee bit like Pat McGinlay in his time.

Michael has always been fit, quick, strong - I've known him for years and he's everything you want at your club. And big David is a player I'd been keeping my eye on for a year, since I saw him play for Norwich in a pre-season match against Raith Rovers.

"He's got everything in front of him. He plays miles in front of himself for an 18-year-old. If he just keeps his feet on the ground he's got a massive future in front of him. I'm delighted to have signed him."

Hughes is looking forward to welcoming Bamba back to Edinburgh, but may have to bide his time before seeing him in action, as the Ivorian is still having problems with the knee which troubled him last season. "It's inflammation to the knee. We were in a routine with Sol here. We know how to treat it.

"He probably got it over there (in South Africa] trying to impress too much. He probably overdid it. I'm disappointed it never worked out for him at the World Cup, but I can't wait to get the big fellow back.

"It was a great experience for him. Any time he goes away with the Ivory Coast, to rub shoulders with players of that quality... we certainly get the benefit of it."

With almost three weeks to go before the first Europa League match, Bamba should have time to catch up on the rest of the squad and get match fit. "Everybody's refreshed, working hard and ready to go," Hughes concluded. "We've still got a lot of work to go, but I'm delighted with them. I think they've probably enjoyed the pre-season.

"The draw's on Friday, first chance we get to see the opposition is when they play on the 22nd and we're already prepared to go and get that scouted. My job is to keep working these boys and get them ready to go."z