All is 'well for
Hurtado's debut!
Ecuador international signs up in
time to face Motherwell - STUART
CROWTHER
HIBERNIAN
TODAY FINALISED THE SIGNING of
Ecuador international striker Eduardo Hurtado, as first revealed by Hibs.net
on Wednesday. The 32-year-old was paraded at Easter Road this
afternoon, where Alex McLeish confirmed the player will take part at some
stage in tomorrow's SPL clash against Motherwell
at Easter Road.
The
6'3" striker met his new team-mates for the first time this morning,
after signing an initial deal that will see the striker through until the
end of the season. And McLeish revealed that Hurtado had been on his
mind for some months, with approaches to his former club Argentinos
Juniors first being made in the summer, when the Hibs boss had hoped to
sign both Hurtado and Craig Brewster. He managed only to retain the
services of Brewster however when a deal with Argentinos hit snags.
McLeish told Hibs.net today: "When
last season finished, we knew that we would have trouble tying up some of
the players contracts. So we tried to do some homework, in terms of
the types of players we would need and who might be available.
Around then we heard about Eduardo, an agent sending in his details, and I
knew the name, I was aware he played against Scotland in the Kirin Cup a
few years ago - so I did some more homework on him. I wondered if he
was just winding his career down now, as he was not in the Ecuador team,
but he then went to Argentina and played in the Premier League there,
still scoring goals. I thought he was a player who could add to the
squad should Mixu leave."
A delighted McLeish finally gets his man (sns)
Paatelainen
of course left during Hibs pre-season tour of France, prompting the Hibs
boss to study the options available - and these included both Brewster and
Hurtado. McLeish said: "He
is not the type of player Mixu is in that he does not attack every single
ball that's kicked - he actually has very good ability on the ground, in
particular with his back to goal. While we were talking to agents
about Eduardo, Craig Brewster's name was put on my desk, and I did not
want to lose both of them. I thought if I went for one, the other
would end up somewhere else, and I might even had ended up not getting
either of them because I knew there were complications with Eduardo's
situation. So I asked managing director Rod Petrie if we could sign
both players, as I see them giving us more options and being interchangeable.
Within certain financial limits Rod was agreeable, but the deal for Eduardo
hit some snags, his club in Argentina was not keen on letting him
go. His coach at Argentinos Juniors was kicking up a fuss, because
he was a big influence there and he did not wish to lose the player, I can
understand his point of view I'd be the same."
The smiling Hurtado hopes for success at Easter Road (sns)
While
Craig Brewster is currently injured, out McLeish confirmed today for at
least 4 weeks and perhaps as long as 6, there was more urgency in Hibs
attempts to sign Hurtado, although McLeish does see both his Scottish and
Ecuadorian striker playing in the same team. He said: "I
think it could be interesting because Eduardo is not a target man as such,
I could see him playing off Craig Brewster in fact. It is in the
link-up play that we will get the benefits from this guy, that and the
ability he has with the ball at his feet. You cannot rule them both
playing in the same team. Eduardo is aggressive and positive when he
is running with the ball, he will take people on."
The
advantage of having a fellow countryman in the squad is bound to have a
positive effect of Hibs wing-back Ulises de la Cruz, the club record
signing admitting today that he was delighted Hurtado had joined him at
Easter Road not in least because he rates the striker as being a better
player that he is! McLeish is also hoping for a knock-on effect from
the signing of Hurtado, who took part in the first 8 World Cup qualifying
matches alongside De La Cruz. McLeish said: "I've
asked Eduardo to talk to Ulises in English as much as possible I
hope he will be a bit of comfort for Ulises having Eduardo in the squad,
and I hope it is of some benefit for Ulises having him around."
McLeish is looking for an immediate return on what is being described as a
'modest' financial investment in the striker, confirming he would be in
the side to face Motherwell when he said: "He has said he is
fine, though he woke up at 3am this morning as the body-clock is still in
Argentine time! He will be in the squad for the Motherwell game,
although I'm not decided yet if he will be on from the start or if we'll
keep him on the bench and let him loose later in the game."
As was
the case when Hibs signed De La Cruz, there was other interested parties
looking at the player, Eric Manasse, the agent responsible for both deal
saying: "There was in interest
from two Argentine clubs, and another in Saudi Arabia and an Italian 'A'
Division club." Hurtado
meanwhile, while able to speak good English following his 4 years playing
in the United States, would talk only through Manasse, Hurtado clearly a
man who prefers to do most of his talking on the field! Hurtado
however is very much looking forward to playing in the SPL, and is ready
to make his debut this weekend, saying: "I
played in a game last week, and last full practice was on Wednesday - I'm
fit. I think the football in Scotland will be very fast, a lot of
high balls towards the forwards. I am excited by the challenge and
the pace of the game, and am looking forward to it."
Hurtado
then is added to Hibs squad to face Motherwell, with Paul Fenwick also
back into contention having recovered from injury, while Gary O'Connor
retains a place in the squad in spite of his playing for Hibs this evening
at Livingston in a Youth Cup tie.
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