Mowbray: Benji can become top dog for Hibs

HIBS manager Tony Mowbray believes Edinburgh derby hero Abdessalam Benjelloun will make a major impact in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague next season.

The 21-year-old joined the Easter Road club in March before making his debut in the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts at Hampden Park three weeks ago. He is still in the early stage of learning English but adapting to life in Scotland will be helped by the French-speaking contingent at Easter Road.

The Moroccan ensured Hibs avenged the cup defeat with his 78th-minute winner against the Jambos on Saturday.

Now Hibs boss Mowbray believes there is more to come from Benjelloun once he has settled into life in Scotland. Mowbray said of the Moroccan Under-21 star: "Benji is a player I am very excited about for next season. He has to get a full pre-season under his belt and is getting married in the summer, so his wife will be coming over here and he will be more settled.

"In every training session we see him scoring wonderful goals with left or right foot and from any angle.

"What we saw on Saturday was just a flicker of what we see in training every day. It is exciting to think of just what he can achieve next season."

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies is relishing the prospect of facing Hibs on the final day of the season at Rugby Park in the race for fourth place.

The former Hearts manager, who lifted the Scottish Cup with the Gorgie side in 1998, said: "They are four points in front, but there are still three games to go.

"What I would like is to be in a position of playing them in the last game of the season with a chance because we would get a decent crowd and it would be a good atmosphere."

Taken from the Scotsman