by Stuart Crowther 19th July 2002

European objective is the O'Connor target Hibs fly out with Garry determined it won't be the only time GARRY O'CONNOR FLEW OUT WITH THE HIBS SQUAD heading for a week in Finland early this morning, and the striker is determined that Hibs repeat the exercise in just over a year's time - on UEFA Cup business.  After ending last season on a high, O'Connor has set a couple of high targets for himself and the club, 20-25 goals and a place in Europe. After scoring 9 times in 12 outings last term, O'Connor found himself ending the season with the surprise bonus of three Scotland caps as national manager Bertie Vogts looked to freshen up the Scotland squad ahead of campaign to qualify for Euro 2004.  O'Connor is hoping to remain very much a part of the international set-up, but to do that he must first see to the business at club level, and he knows that the cash crisis in Scottish football has played right into his hands on that score.  "A number of players have left the club, including strikers Craig Brewster, David Zitelli," O'Connor said, and with neither of these players being replaced it means much less competition for the young striker who has been the subject of transfer speculation himself throughout the summer. "Mathias Jack is training with Hibs but has yet to be given a new contract, while it does not look as if others will be coming in to replace them and we will be playing with the squad we have got," the striker continued.  O'Connor made his pre-season debut on Wednesday evening in a bounce match against Cowdenbeath, and while missing a few clear opportunities in that match he continued to show the trademark of a good striker by not letting that get to him - and hitting the net twice to help Hibs to a 3-2 win over Keith Wright's side.  It has been a long time since Hibs had a striker capable of breaking the 20-goals in a season barrier, Wright indeed being one former Hibs player who managed that feat.  But O'Connor certainly demonstrated the ability to do that almost from the moment Bobby Williamson arrived at the club, and he is confident that he can achieve the 25 goal target. Garry O'Connor - looking for at least 25 of these celebrations! (sns) He said: "My target is to score between 20 and 25 goals.  I know that might sound a lot but if I continue to work hard and improve it can be done.  I've heard the transfer talk doing the rounds but nobody has said anything to me and my priority is to do as well as I can for Hibs.  If I continue to get better it means that hopefully I will remain in Berti Vogts Scotland plans - that is up to me."  Both workouts for his first team squad this week must have pleased Hibs boss Bobby Williamson, seeing as he did the return of Ulrik Laursen, Tam McManus and Ian Murray, all of whom missed the end of last season through injury or surgery.  The early form of youngsters Kevin Nicol and Steven Whittaker also provided signs that in spite of the lack of incoming transfers over the summer, there is some reason to be confident. Hibs fans have had little to cheer them in recent months but O'Connor certainly is confident that is about to change.  He said: "Last season was a huge disappointment for the club.  Not to finish in the top six is nowhere good enough and the players appreciate we let the supporters down.  We owe them big time and the objective has to be a place in Europe."  While some fans retain doubts that the current squad would be up to that task, they would do well to note that few clubs in the SPL have been in any position to strengthen their squads, and those that have were by and large forced to do so by the sheer weight in the numbers of players they lost since the end of last season.  While little can be read into pre-season games, Hibs managed to field to very strong and very different sides this week, a pointer perhaps that the squad may be small but it still has some power!  Certainly Garry O'Connor sees no reason to panic, and no doubt he will be out to demonstrate just why during the 4-match tour of Finland. Meanwhile Hibs are insisting that Ulises de la Cruz WOULD be on the flight to Finland this morning, in spite of more reports from Ecuador to the contrary. The latest reports from De La Cruz's native country say that the player is set to sign for Aston Villa, and would not travel to Finland with the Easter Road squad. Parma, Verona, Lille, River Plate and Villa have all been linked with the Hibs player, and earlier this week official sources in Ecuador claimed that De La Cruz had not returned to Easter Road, a claim later refuted by the club.