Benji may play on sunday!!!

[Swoosh]

Tony hints at baptism of fire for Benji


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HIBS boss Tony Mowbray today refused to rule out a shock baptism of fire for new signing Abdessalam Benjoulloun - even although the Moroccan striker hasn't kicked a ball in anger for the Easter Road outfit.

Mowbray had hoped to see the 21-year-old in competitive action for the first time in a reserve match last night but the game was called off because the pitch was flooded.

But even so, Mowbray feels he has seen enough from the youngster in training over the past three months as Hibs cut their way through a swathe of red tape to secure him a work permit to believe he could spring a surprise on arch-rivals Hearts in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final.

While wary of putting too much pressure on Benjelloun's shoulders, Mowbray said: "We were convinced of his quality as soon as we saw him in training. He likes to get the ball at his feet, he's got good technique, good body strength and excellent close control.

"It was disappointing not to see him play last night but, when I left the ground at 6.45pm, parts of the pitch were under water.

"But Benji has trained for ten or 11 weeks with us and it's just match sharpness that would be lacking. I'm not ruling him out of the weekend as we have to see who is fit and available."

While it would be highly unlikely that Benjelloun would start the Hampden clash, Mowbray believes he could make an impact coming off the bench - if needed.

However, with only five substitutes rather than seven allowed in the Cup and Mowbray already contemplating a bench role for leg-break victim Scott Brown, the Hibs boss admitted he has some thinking to do.

But the element of surprise that Benjelloun could bring could work in his favour, Mowbray saying: "We know what he can do and he is someone who, if needed, could come on and make something happen. There's that advantage of a new player doing something slightly different.

"Opposition players do need to get a feel for a new opponent, they don't know his strengths and weaknesses, whether he is right- or left-footed, which way he prefers to turn and so on.

"It would be a big ask for him in such a match but there's a potential surprise element and we'll make that decision later in the week."

While Mowbray and his backroom staff have high hopes for a player who featured in last summer's World Under-20 Cup, he cautioned Hibs fans against expecting too much too soon.

He said: "We hope Benji will develop into a special player for us but he is a young boy coming to a foreign country and he'll need time to adapt both to the Scottish game and the intensity of what we expect every day in training and to a new environment and culture.

"No-one has seen him play yet and there is the danger we can expect too much."

Meanwhile, striker Chris Killen is expected to be fit for Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury.

Good knows i hope! He could become an instant hero for us after this match
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[CadgeMac]

yeah think he will be on the bench. killen and sproule to start for me
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[Daddy'O'Hibee]

Remember Ivan being played in last years semi with no big match experiance.

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[CadgeMac]

Originally Posted by Daddy'O'Hibee

Remember Ivan being played in last years semi with no big match experiance.

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yeah, but look at ivan at ibrox and killen at ibrox

[Daddy'O'Hibee]

Originally Posted by CadgeMac

yeah, but look at ivan at ibrox and killen at ibrox

True young man, he's got to start somewhere, they don't come much bigger,


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[CadgeMac]

Originally Posted by Daddy'O'Hibee

True young man, he's got to start somewhere, they don't come much bigger,


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yeah, the dont come much bigger, time to make himself a hero
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[snedhib87]

I have a feeling, a strong feeling Benji will come off the bench for last 20 mins and change the game.donno maybe jst dreaming.what a fairytale it would be though eh!!!

[Keepitgreen]

This is definitely worth a shot. Put him on the bench, and if needed he's something to shake up the game
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A Hampden debut is a story to tell for sure
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KiG

[CockenzieHibee]

i wouldnt start with him on. But if he's on the bench then he should definately get on for a good wee while. Big games like this are what made the likes of Killen and Sproule into the players they are today

[Broxburn_Hibby]

If i were Mowbray i'd be on the cautious side with regards to Benji.Fire him on the bench by all means but its too big a game to risk him from the start.

[DarrenSQH]

I would like to see Benji on the bench on sunday and maybe get his chance in the second half.

[ELWisty]

I wonder how much of this is psychological warfare on the part of TM - drop hints he's going to use this unknown quanitity to the jambos, our secret weapon.

That said, if he's as good as Mogga claims we should definitely chuck him on... think how much it could unsettle the yams

[dunney_hibee_91]

from what ive heard the guy sounds class lets have him on the bench and stick on at sometime and if hes as good as ive heard he should cause real problems for the yams
c`mon the hibees

[rude_boy]

Originally Posted by ELWisty

I wonder how much of this is psychological warfare on the part of TM - drop hints he's going to use this unknown quanitity to the jambos, our secret weapon.

Could be a double bluff and he's going to play Konte
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[nabser]

In fairness to him he has been training with the team for the past ten weeks so its just match fitness he will be short of, i fully expect to see him on the bench and then get a run with fifteen or twenty minutes to go.