Zemmama on track for Hibs return

HIBS manager John Hughes admitted today that he's delighted to see Merouane Zemmama up running again as the little Moroccan continues his lengthy battle back to fitness.

The 26-year-old could be out until the end of the year, having suffered a cruciate ligament injury in a game against Falkirk at the end of last season.

However Hughes revealed that the midfielder is in good spirits having been able to start running outside again and is working hard to get himself back on the road to recovery. Hughes said: "I'm delighted to see Zouma back out in the fresh air and doing some running again.

"It's going to be a long road for him, but he's a great character and he's always smiling, he's been working hard as well and he's back outside running again, which is great for him. He's been doing a lot of work on his own in the gym and with the physio and he's got a real focus now that he is able to do some real work.

"He's a big miss for us, we can't afford too many injuries with the size of squad that we have, but we're not putting any pressure on him."

Meanwhile the Easter Road club have banned six of their own fans - who were arrested by Slovenian police after trouble flared ahead of their Europa League qualifier in Slovenia last month - from home or away games involving the club.

Hibs chief executive Scott Lindsay, said: "Whilst the vast majority of supporters who travelled to Maribor behaved impeccably, unfortunately there was a small minority who tarnished the good name of Hibernian Football Club. The club has no alternative but to take appropriate action against those individuals."