Mor first-team Hibs games would make Filipe so much merrier

FILIPE MORAIS today vowed to work harder then ever to fight his way back into Hibs' first team.

And he'd love nothing more than to convince boss Mixu Paatelainen of his worth before this weekend's Edinburgh derby.

The attacking midfielder last played for the first team in the Co-Operative Cup defeat to Morton back in August – a match in which he was withdrawn at half-time after taking a knock – and since then he has struggled to find a way back into the top team.

He has featured regularly in the second string over the last month or so and played 65 minutes of yesterday's 5-1 reserve defeat to Rangers at Almondvale.

And he is keeping his fingers crossed that his early departure may signal some involvement in this weekend's Edinburgh derby – although he insisted that he's simply focusing on the long-term and not a quick-fix return to the first team at Easter Road.

Morais said: "I am hoping that I might be involved in the squad this weekend but at the moment I am just concentrating on trying to get back fit again.

"I'm keeping my head down in training and working hard behind the scenes because obviously I want to be back in the first team again.

"In the last couple of weeks I've been playing in the reserves and I've been doing alright and scored a goal or two.

"All I can do is wait for the nod from the manager, and when I get that then hopefully I can take it when it comes along. Hopefully I am still in his thoughts.

"I want to play in every game, especially the ones against Hearts, everyone wants to be involved in those kinds of games.

"I want to be in the squad every weekend, the longer you play in the reserves though, the more your confidence goes down.

"I am still trying to work hard and get myself back in there. I have been out injured and I have only got myself to blame if I am not in that squad week-in, week-out."

The Portuguese-born player admitted it will be tough for him on Sunday if he's not included in the squad for the eagerly-awaited showdown with Hearts.

He's not a good spectator at the best of times, never mind sitting in the stand watching an Edinburgh derby.

With so much at stake for both teams involved, he continued: "I'm a nightmare, I can't watch games, I just want to be involved and be out there playing. If I'm not involved then the derby will be a nightmare for me because I will be there to support the boys, but it will also be really frustrating for me. The worst part of the game is when you are not in the team.

"But I've got confidence in my ability, I just need to wait for my chance and the only person who can get me back in that team is me. All I can do is wait for the call."

Paatelainen strengthened his squad in the summer, bringing in Steve Pinau and Joe Keenan, as well as David van Zanten, Steven Thicot and Fabian Yantorno, and the Finn is still looking to add to his pool of players.

A goalkeeper appears to be his next priority and the Hibs manager wants to reach a position where there is cover for every single position on the park.

Morais admits that makes life even more difficult for players who find themselves out of the starting line-up, but conceded that it can only help the team. He said: "It is very hard to get back in because we've added to our squad and the manager is keen to keep strengthening, so it can only be good for the side.

"It's difficult if you're out of the side though, and it also depends on what formation we use because there's not really a position for me if we use the diamond shape.

"If we play 4-3-3 then I have got a chance but it's really just a case of grafting and trying to prove yourself again. You have just got to battle on prove people wrong and all I can do is work hard."

Hibs fell behind to a Rory Loy goal at Almondvale after just five minutes yesterday and never managed to recover.

The same player added a second from the penalty spot just five minutes later after himself being brought down by out-rushing keeper Andy McNeil and it was 3-0 before the break, when Christian Dailly nodded on and Nacho Novo turned the ball home from close range.

The Ibrox side took just three minutes of the second half to add a fourth through Andrew Shinnie and they made it five with over half an hour remaining when Novo bagged a second.

The Easter Road side pulled one back on the hour when they were awarded a penalty after Dailly had held back Steve Pinau.

The former Monaco man took the spot kick himself and, although his first attempt was blocked by Rangers keeper Graeme Smith, he forced the ball home from the rebound.

Morais admitted: "It was a massive disappointment for us because we had some good results against them last season.

"Sometimes that happens in the reserves though, because there is such a mixture of players.

"But the older players didn't really do themselves any favours either and we have got to have a good look at ourselves.

"Hopefully the young boys can bounce back and the older ones will have to take some of the flak for the result against Rangers."

Hibs: McNeil, Gathuessi, Booth, Chisholm, McCormack, Hanlon, Morais (Byrne 65), Wilson (Tolmie 75), Cropley, Yantorno (Welsh), Pinau. Unused subs: Grof, Moyes.

Rangers: Smith, McLachlan, Kinniburgh, McMillan, Dailly, Adam (Wilson 73), Shinnie, Fleck (Stirling 70), Loy, Novo (Hutton 65), Niguez. Unused subs: Wilson, Wylde, Stirling, Perry.