by Stuart Crowther 31st July 2002

McManus first strike on the road to recovery SPL TV deal sealed - Jack to sign up - Hibs.net golf squad take Hibernian trophy TAM MCMANUS MAY HAVE MADE HIS WAY back into the Hibs first team on the opening pre-season game at Hampden Park earlier this month, but not until he struck the net on Monday evening in Hibs 2-2 draw with Everton did the striker really believe he was on his way back.  McManus featured in a couple of tour matches in Finland, but the road to recovery after six months out of the game following a leg break was never going to be an easy one for the Hibs striker, who still believes he is a few weeks away from regaining full fitness. McManus came on at half time on Monday to take up the right-midfield slot he has occupied a few times in pre-season games, Bobby Williamson seeking that versatility he desires from as many of his small first-team squad as is possible.  McManus will take just about any breaks he can get in the game right now, knowing that there is a risk he will soon be dubbed a 'nearly man' having been told for the last couple of season just how 'big' that particular season was going to be for his career.  The likable dressing room joker though let rip with his true feelings on Monday, celebrating his goal in such a fashion that it drew a few comments form his team-mates!  He said: "It was my first competitive game back at Easter Road but I'm still struggling a little bit with my fitness and sharpness.  But it was great to go on against Everton and in my first couple of touches score a good goal, so I was delighted both with that and the way the team played against what is a very strong Everton side. McManus goes on a celebratory run after finding the target against Everton (sns) "I've been out a long time, and so when the ball hit the net I was pretty ecstatic, it was great to score.  I'm still a fair bit away from full fitness, I was feeling it a bit on Monday after about 20 minutes but I suppose it was just the adrenalin that was keeping me going.  It will take another 3 or 4 weeks for me I think, perhaps some Under-21 games or maybe the first team to get back to where I was before the injury."  The manner in which McManus took his chance against Everton will have given the striker a massive boost, and it was a timely strike given it was a last chance to get on the score-sheet ahead of the real business starting on Saturday at Easter Road when Aberdeen come calling.  And while McManus believes he might need a few games yet before he can launch a serious bid for a regular first-team slot, he has already done his chances no harm by a willingness to play in a wide right position.  He said: "When the club sold De La Cruz the gaffer spoke to me about playing in that position.  And of course I came in off the wing on Monday and got my goal, I can play in that position and obviously the boss is looking for versatility.  "Fact is I don't really care where I play so long as I can get a game!  I actually made my debut for the club in that position, against Hearts at Tynecastle a couple of seasons ago, but I've never really had a run in that position.  If required then obviously I can play there but we have a few midfielders in the squad so we'll just have to see, perhaps I can give the gaffer something different."  The injury sustained against Dundee at Dens Park last season may have proved even more costly for McManus, forced to sit on the sidelines as Garry O'Connor found a rich seam of goals and as a result found himself in the Scotland squad.  That however has been turned into a target by the striker, who believes as all young players in Scotland now do that if they are good enough, Vogts will given them a chance at international level.  McManus said: "It's always in the back of your mind that Berti is going to give younger players a chance, but first and foremost is to get fit and establish myself in the Hibs team.  If then I'm playing well then maybe I'll get a wee chance at international level but we will just have to wait and see how I get on, that was my first real game back." Adrian Duffner, Mark Love, Lennie O'Hara and Martin McAvoy line up with Tony Caig and Gary Smith before yesterday's golf tournament at Dalmahoy - won by the Hibs.net team! Meanwhile Mathias Jack looks set to finally sign a new contract this week.  Jack has been training with the club throughout the month with no contract on offer, but in the knowledge that boss Bobby Williamson wished him to remain at Easter Road.  The transfers of Ulises de la Cruz and Ulrik Laursen, who is expected to sign for Celtic tomorrow with a £2m fee coming the way of Easter Road, have paved the way for Jack to be offered a new deal which should be concluded before Hibs play Aberdeen on Saturday.  The German said: "I spoke with the manager after the Everton game and I am hoping everything will be sorted very soon.  Bobby Williamson has told me he wants me to come back which is very encouraging.  I have been training with the squad since the first day of pre-season and when the first team went to Finland I remained with the youngsters, so it would not take long for me to get match-fit." Television is back on the agenda for Scottish football fans this season after the Old Firm agreed to sign up to a £18m  2-year deal with the BBC.  The Glasgow clubs had been holding up the long-awaited deal but finally relented last night, on the eve of a meeting of all twelve SPL clubs at Hampden today.  However talk of peace between the twelve appears premature, as harsh words were once again spoken by the Old Firm and it is understood that deal or no deal, the 10 non-OF clubs will yet carry out their threat to give two years notice of their resignation before the league kick off on Saturday. Hibs.net's team of Martin McAvoy, Lennie O'Hara, Adrian Duffner and Mark Love swept all before them in yesterday's inaugural Hibernian Golf Tournament at Dalmahoy.  Playing alongside Hibs first team players Tony Caig and Gary Smith, the team formed from the Hibs.net message board blasted their way to win the tournament, organised by the club as a fund raising event for Hibernian youth.  Now skipper McAvoy and his team will be special guests of the club for the game against Aberdeen, where they will be presented with their prize on the pitch at Easter Road.