Fabian Yantorno set to start new season as Hibs player

Jun 29 2008 By Gordon Waddell

FORMER Gretna star Fabian Yantorno is winning his fight to be fit for the start of the season - and looks set to make the big kick-off in a Hibs shirt.

The Easter Road side offered the Uruguayan forward the chance to do rehab with them after the now-defunct Raydale club reneged on his care in March.

Now the 25-year-old is close to full fitness following his nightmare knee injury.

And Hibees boss Mixu Paatelainen admits a deal could be done before his troops face Kilmarnock in their August 9 opener.

He said: "Fabian's great.

He's improving, training hard and has a great attitude.

"He's now kicking the ball and running with the group. Fabian can't take part in games or drills but is kicking a ball under supervision.

"So there is a possibility he could be fit for the first game.

"We don't have him tied up right now - we've basically done him a favour and said we will take it from there.

"But if he gets fit he could be in a Hibs jersey. Fabian needs to be patient and so do we. He's an exciting player but if he comes back too early he could hit a setback."

Paatelainen is determined to get Hibs off to a flier - and not just in their Intertoto Cup clashes that kick off next Sunday at Easter Road.

After slumping to sixth spot last term Mixu knows he's under pressure from fans to pick up the pace.

Hibs were in the thick of the race for Europe but two points from their final 15 saw them crash.

Paatelainen said: "We had a great chance and threw it away. We want to make amends by bettering sixth position this time.

"When I came in January the dressing-room was really down. There had been a long run of games without wins and it wasn't going our way.

"It was important to pick it up from there and we did that. But the more you eat the hungrier you get.

"Some people might have been happy reaching the top six but we wanted to get third spot and it was possible."