Hibs staff on a mission
(Stuart Crowther)

HIBERNIAN COACHING STAFF are on a mission this week, with Hibs men scattered around Europe in search of new talent to take the club on to the next stage.

Alex McLeish is understood to have flown to Denmark, where he has already proven successful in identifying quality players with Ulrik Laursen having proven to be one of his best signings for the club.  Other members of McLeish's coaching staff are believed to also be looking at players in various countries, as McLeish looks to build his squad for next season which will of course likely include an assault on Europe for the first time since 1992.

It will be a welcome break for the Hibs boss from talking about the future of Russell Latapy, still a subject of intense speculation by Hibs fans and also Trinidad and Tobago fans, and being fuelled by further reports this morning that Latapy looks set to sign for Celtic on his return from international duty next week.  The Celtic link gathered pace when it was revealed that Lubo Moravcik was today setting out for France for discussions with officials from his former club Bastia, who are confident that they will land the player at the end of the season.  The imminent arrival of Latapy at Celtic Park is said to have added to Moravcik's 'change of heart', the player having decided to sign a new deal at Celtic but now apparently swaying on that.

Laursen - new deal? (sns)

Danish wing-back Laursen meanwhile is confident of being fit again to face St Johnstone at Easter Road a week on Sunday.  Injured in the Scottish Cup Quarter-Final win over Kilmarnock, Laursen was expected to be out for some weeks but hopes are now high of an early return for a player who also looks set to sign a new extended deal with the club.  Reports also in some quarters this morning that Hibs boss Alex McLeish would need to take another look at Frederic Arpinon before taking a final decision are far from the mark, Hibs.net understands, with a deal very close to being concluded with the French midfielder who has been training at the club for the last week.  However McLeish will likely need another look at Trinidad and Tobago striker Nigel Pierre before concluding any deal.