HIBERNIAN trialist Fabian Yantorno is desperate to help end the club's dismal pre-season campaign on a high by beating Wigan Athletic tonight – and earn himself an Easter Road contract.
The Uruguayan midfielder has been battling to prove his fitness to Mixu Paatelainen since he was brought under the club's wing after his release from now defunct Gretna.
Yantorno suffered a serious knee injury playing for his former side in Janu
ary but Paatelainen stepped in to offer him facilities at Hibs' £5 million training base with the incentive of a contract if he proved himself after his recovery.
Following brief run-outs against Cowdenbeath and Clyde last week, Yantorno is now itching for a further chance having not featured in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Middlesbrough.
With Hibs kicking off their SPL season at Kilmarnock this weekend, the 25-year-old is eager to have his future resolved and hopes playing tonight can aid his cause.
Hibs have leaked a disappointing 18 goals in seven Intertoto Cup and friendly matches during a high-profile pre-season and have netted just twice, but Yantorno wants to end the poor sequence with a first victory.
Ahead of the home meeting with the Premiership team, he said: "I don't know if I'll play , but I'd like to. I'm on the squad list and I'll find out if I'm playing in the morning. I only played for 30 minutes against Clyde and before that against Cowdenbeath. I feel good, every day I feel a little bit better.
"I've spoken to Mixu and he wants to give me more minutes in a game, so hopefully I can get more time tonight. I know how much a win would lift confidence.
"If I can play a little bit more, then I'll need to speak to Mixu or look at another club.
"The season is starting this weekend so I need to know my future, if I'm staying here or looking for another side. I think Mixu is happy with me and my attitude. Hopefully I can stay. I want to stay. I've not heard from any other clubs."
Yantorno has been pleased with his rehabilitation and admits he is getting no reaction to his injury. The Montevideo-born player added: "I know I'm not yet 100 per cent fit, but as I said I'm feeling better every day.
"Maybe I can get 45 minutes or more against Wigan. I want to get fit as soon as possible."
Paatelainen knows he still needs to strengthen the squad at Easter Road, with only David Van Zanten, Steven Thicot and Joe Keenan having been added so far this summer.
The French trialist forward who impressed against Middlesbrough, setting up Steven Fletcher's second goal, will also be given another opportunity by the Hibs manager this evening.
Paatelainen said: "He can do better, I'm positive he can, and hopefully he will show an improvement.
"I have done my homework on him, I've spoken to various people about him, including Franck Sauzee, who said he believes he could be a very good player for us."
The full article contains 523 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
