KEVIN McCann will fly to London today hoping to get the green light to kick-start his injury-hit Hibernian career after more than a year out.
The 21-year-old has been sidelined with patella tendonitis in his right knee and was eventually forced to undergo surgery in December after being plagued by a number of aborted comeback attempts.
The full-back has had his rehabilitation overseen
by top consultant Professor Nicola Maffulli and will see the Italian today expecting to be given the all-clear to return for pre-season training when it starts under new manager John Hughes on Thursday.
McCann, who last played in the 0-0 draw with Rangers on 4 May last year, took only a fortnight off during the close-season, instead stepping up his bid for full fitness with regular visits to Hibs' East Mains training centre.
The youngster returned for non-contact sessions towards the end of last season but is now setting his sights on fully participating in the Easter Road club's pre-season preparations and a return to first-team action early in the new campaign. He said: "I'm going back down to see the specialist on Monday and hopefully it will be just a five-minute job, a handshake and him giving me the all-clear to get back to full training.
"I got two weeks away but I've been going in to the club three or four days a week this summer and doing my own stuff in my local park on the other days to try and make sure I'm ready.
"I'm hoping to start back with the boys on Thursday and join in straight away, and obviously I'm hoping it all goes well.
"The physio is happy with me and the doctors as well, and I'm feeling a lot stronger now. Obviously I'll have to see how I react to full training but I'm aiming to be involved in the pre-season games and for it to be as normal a pre-season as possible."
Meanwhile, Moroccan pair Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun have been granted an extended summer break after being involved in their country's World Cup qualifiers this month. The duo were both farmed out last season but have been assured by new manager John Hughes they are in his future plans.
And Hibs are reportedly set to snap up Everton teenager Tom McCready on a long-term deal. The 18-year-old midfielder is out of contract at Goodison Park and Hughes has offered McCready a three-year deal.
Hughes will return to the club this morning following a two-week holiday and is hopeful a deal can be concluded for Falkirk midfielder Patrick Cregg.
The full article contains 463 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
