BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
HIBS boss Neil Lennon is to shun the chance to run the rule over next week’s Europa League opponents – and concentrate on getting his own team ready instead.
Lennon had planned to travel to Copenhagen to take in Brondby’s home clash with Valur of Reykjavik on Thursday night.
But, with the Danes already 4-1 ahead from the away leg, which was taken in by assistant Garry Parker, the new Easter Road head coach believes it could be a fruitless exercise.
The Northern Irishman is convinced Brondby will ease into the second qualifying round and could make a raft of changes that would render a personal visit pointless.
The former Celtic manager will trust one of his backroom staff to take in the tie and will instead remain in Edinburgh to take his team to face Edinburgh City at Meadowbank this evening.
He explained: “I’m not going, because they’re 4-1 up and they may make a few changes.
“We’ve already seen what they can do away from home and that’s obviously going to be important for the game next Thursday.
“We’ll have people there to do a report and I can get on with the game here, because we’ve still got a bit of work to do.
“I feel that’s more important. We’ve already watched them, so we’ve an idea of how they play, and away from home as well.
“I would imagine the tie’s over, being 4-1 up away from home, and the team that plays at Easter Road may not be the team that plays this Thursday.”
Meanwhile, Hibs have snapped up former Raith Rovers keeper Ross Laidlaw on a one-year deal following a successful trial with the club.
The 23-year-old has spent the past fortnight training with the Easter Road club after a six-year stint at Stark’s Park.
The 6’4” goalie played with Hibs’ under-20s in Saturday’s friendly win over Hawick Royal Albert and took part in the warm-up for the first-team’s draw with Berwick Rangers on Tuesday night but did not play.
In a short statement, Hibs said: “Hibernian can confirm that Ross Laidlaw has joined the club on a one-year deal.”
