Edu Fit For Hibs

[ian1964 10,720]

By Andrew Dickson

 

MAURICE EDU has been passed fit for tomorrow's crucial SPL trip to Edinburgh, where Rangers will face Hibernian.

 

There had been concerns about the American's fitness after he was injured in a clash with Celtic's Glenn Loovens during the first half of Saturday's 1-0 derby win.

 

Mo Edu was injured in a tackle with Celtic's Glenn Loovens on SaturdayThe 23-year-old sat out training today as he was given more time to recuperate ahead of the game at Easter Road.

 

But manager Walter Smith insists he will be ready for the latest chapter in Gers' bid for the title and that's a massive boost for the manager.

 

Edu gave an excellent Old Firm performance at the weekend and scored the winner the last time the Light Blues played in Leith on April 19.

 

Smith said: "Maurice seems okay. He missed training this morning but he'll be fine to play in the game tomorrow.

 

"He has done well since he came in but he hasn't surprised me. I thought it would take him the whole season to settle, as it has done with a number of players.

 

"Kyle Lafferty is another who is in a very similar situation and Maurice especially has handled this last part of the campaign really well."

 

While Edu is fit and available, it seems Bosnian defender Sasa Papac won't make the trip through to the capital.

 

Although he was initially sidelined after he sustained a gash in his foot at St Mirren last month, it's a knee injury he picked up on his return at Hibs that keeps him out.

 

Smith added: "It doesn't look like Sasa will make it. Again, he has been a little bit slow to recover from his knee injury.

 

"Aside from that, everybody else who has been available and playing for us in the last few weeks is fit. Mo was the only one who missed training but I'm certain he'll be fit."

[Super_Ally 0]

Another appearance for Dailly then?

 

Why wont Smith do the obvious things and put Smith at LB, keep Whittaker at RB and play a LM at LM.

 

All this shuffling of the pack to keep accomodate our worst player at RB.

[Guest Mac]

Another appearance for Dailly then?

 

Why wont Smith do the obvious things and put Smith at LB, keep Whittaker at RB and play a LM at LM.

 

All this shuffling of the pack to keep accomodate our worst player at RB.

 

Didn't think he did that bad against the scum.

[Super_Ally 0]

Didn't think he did that bad against the scum.

 

He still looked vulnerable. Looked more like a case of Celtic failing to take advantage than Dailly looking solid. Couple that with the fact that he was the worst player on the field in both of our previous two fixtures and it has me concerned. Agree with the poster who, on the Stevie Smith thread, said he was one of our worst performers. Just because he did not get found out in the last match does not mean we should not be looking to play a better player in their natural position in his place.

 

He was not overly troubled at the back, but was still poor going forward. Doesn't offer an option to Davis, doesn't overlap, his crossing and passing are poor. Poeple talk about his fitness, but he is either lacking in pace, initial acceleration or reading of the game as in each of the recent games he has been tricked into or forced to make despairing lunging slide tackles as an opposition player attempts to skip by him.

[Gribz 846]

Its S Smith at LM i worry about more that Dailly at RB. Smith was poor a few weeks ago against Hibs.

 

Having Edu fit is a boost 1) He has been playing well and 2) it keeps McCulloch out of that role.