Zitelli vows
to wow from midfield
David will work from any position
for the Hibees - STUART CROWTHER DAVID
ZITELLI JUST WANTS TO PLAY FOR HIBS - and if that is from a deeper
role he simply does not care, so long as he is on the park and not sitting
around on the bench hoping for a start.
Brought into the side
for Tuesday's CIS Cup win over Dundee United for his first Easter Road
start of the season, Zitelli gave the Hibs midfield the much-needed boost
that provided Hibs front two of Paco Luna and Tam McManus with the
required ammunition. While there is no doubt that Zitelli would
prefer to have been in the frontline, just being on the pitch was enough
for the Frenchman who has had a miserable campaign on the sidelines - but
boosted by the knowledge that Hibs fans, at least, had never lost faith in
his abilities.
Zitelli - midfield will do (sns)
"Hibs
fans have such a passion for their football," Zitelli said,
adding: "I know they like me and that is very
important to me, it means a lot. Like any player I am just happy to
play anywhere, especially as this has been such a frustrating season for
me." There were rumours earlier in the season of a move
from Aberdeen for Zitelli, but that was quickly denied by the classy
French star who has maintained all along that he is happy at Easter Road,
and indeed will be looking, if possible, to extend his current deal at the
club which ends next summer. First however is the job of helping
Hibs back into the groove as far as SPL points are concerned.
Zitelli said: "We have a strong squad and there
is a lot of competition for places. There will be even more
competition when Franck Sauzee and Paul Fenwick return after injury."
While the clash with
champions Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow looks to be too soon for Sauzee,
Fenwick has a chance of returning to the squad for a game that manager
Alex McLeish will hope to take something, and thus provide a platform from
which Hibs can build on in what is a difficult month for his side.
The Parkhead visit will be followed by during the month with two games
against Rangers and a trip to Tynecastle, not the easiest run-up to the
festive season that he could have wished for. Hibs took a thumping
from Celtic at Easter Road earlier in the season, and that hurt with
Zitelli saying: "That defeat hurt all the
players and we are as determined as ever to put up a good display this
time around. It has been a disappointing season but I believe we
have turned the corner and we will be looking to move up the league
table."
The postponed draw for
the semi-final stage of the CIS Cup will take place this evening at around
6.15pm on Scottish Television. Joining Hibs in the draw will be
Rangers, Ayr United and the winners of the Celtic/Livingston quarter final
tie, whenever that is played! The Semi's are scheduled to be played
in the first week of February 2002.
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