Hibs handed rookie referee for Europa return leg

UEFA have placed rookie 28-year-old French referee Clement Turpin in charge of Hibs Europa League clash with NK Maribor, it was revealed today.

Turpin is in his first year on FIFA's list but has only officiated in one Euro tie, the Europa League second round match between Croatian side HNK Cibalia Vinkovciv and Cliftonville last month. Hibs boss John Hughes, meanwhile, was today giving his players their first glimpse of the new-look Easter Road as they trained on the pitch as they prepare to try to overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg in their third qualifying round.

The pitch, much criticised last season, not least by Hibs striker Derek Riordan, was totally relaid and widened by four metres during the close-season as the new 6400 capacity East Stand was built.

However, the new stand won't be open for the visit of the Slovenian club on Thursday night. Rumours had suggested half the seats may be available, but today Fife Hyland, the club's director of marketing and communications, confirmed it won't be used. While insisting the construction work is on schedule, with all the seats in place, Hyland revealed Hibs were intent on having the project completely finished before opening it to supporters.

Ticket sales for the match were said to be "very good" despite the disappointing result in Slovenia with the West Stand and the upper tier of the Famous Five Stand sold-out with supporters continuing to buy their briefs over the past few days while season ticket holders have been reminded they have until tomorrow to buy theirs for only 5.

Maribor have been dealt a blow ahead of the match with the loss of one of their players, Elvedin Dzinic who broke an elbow after landing awkwardly during his side's 3-1 League win over Gorica on Sunday.

Dzinic, an unused substitute in the first leg, had scored in the match with Goran Cvijanovic claiming the other two.

But Maribor coach Darko Milanic was able to underline the strength of his side by leaving both Josip Ilicic and captain Marcos Tavares, scorers of the goals which sank Hibs, on the bench as his side continued their impressive start to the season having scored 14 goals and conceded just two in six competitive matches.