Mixu in player search after Zarabi exits

HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen today admitted he'll be in the market for a new left-back following Algerian internationalist Abdel Zarabi's shock departure after just four months at Easter Road.

The 29-year-old arrived during the January transfer window from French outfit FC Gueugnon, ending a long chase for his signature by Paatelainen who had tried to sign him for Finnish club TPS Turku.

Having lost David Murphy to Birmingham City, Paatelainen saw Zarabi, who had played 26 internationals including matches against Brazil and Argentina in the previous year, as an experienced replacement. Zarabi agreed a three-year deal but, following discussions with Paatelainen, has left Easter Road by mutual consent.

Today Paatelainen was unwilling to divulge the reasons behind Zarabi's departure although it is known his wife and young child hadn't joined him in Edinburgh.

Paatelainen said: "We'll leave the details aside, but taking everything into account we felt it best he go back to France to play his football. Unfortunately things didn't work out the way we had hoped."

Zarabi has already left to join the Algerian national squad as they prepare for their forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches. He played just eight games for Hibs, his last the 1-1 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice in the middle of last month. Paatelainen does have the emerging Paul Hanlon to fill that position, as can Lewis Stevenson although the Hibs boss sees him primarily as a midfield player and, while Ian Murray has played there, he's made no secret of the fact that t is his least favourite deployment.

The Easter Road manager said: "We do have options, but one of the reasons for bringing in Zarabi
was his experience so that's an area in which we will have to strengthen."

With Murray and defender Martin Canning suspended following their red cards at Celtic Park, it appears likely 18-year-old Hanlon will start the final match of the season tonight as Motherwell, having pipped Hibs and Dundee United to the final UEFA Cup place, arrive at Easter Road.

And Paatelainen hopes the realisation that they came within touching distance of claiming that place for themselves despite a "horrendous" run of results before he became manager, will result in greater consistency from his players next season.

He said: "We picked up few points out of so many matches and when you look back now you think if a couple of defeats had been draws and a couple of draws had been wins, it would be an entirely different situation.

"It's all ifs and buts, that's why I always stress how important each match is, whether it is at the start of the season or the end. People tend to concentrate on the end of season games and say how important they are but they are just as vital in the early part of the season."

Depending on the outcome of United's match with Celtic at Tannadice tonight, Hibs could finish fourth and that's the target Paatelainen is setting his players.

He said: "Motherwell will come full of confidence.

They have qualified for the UEFA Cup, they are above us in the League so we'd like to end with a win over them."

Hungarian teenager David Grof will be on the bench tonight as Yves Ma-Kalambay is with the Belgian Olympic squad as they prepare for this summer's games in China, while Abdessalam Benjelloun is struggling with a groin problem.