Hibs striker Abdessalam Benjelloun may put International career on hold

Last updated : 08 November 2007 By Steve Forbes
img70/8981/benjelloun2yc1.jpg

Hibs' Moroccan forward Abdessalam Benjelloun has today hinted that he may put his International ambitions on hold, to get himself back to match sharpness.

The 22-year-old has not played for the Hibees since the 1-0 win over
Inverness in September and is now on the comeback trail.

A combination of the effects of Ramadan and a knee injury have kept Benji out for two months as the Hibees made a spectacular start to the season without him.

Benji has now started his comeback, following a 90 minute appearance against St Mirren for the Hibs reserves in midweek. He did however play for the Moroccan Olympic side a couple of times in October, much to the annoyance of manager John Collins.

Benjelloun said:

"Sometimes you have very bad luck with these things and it has been very hard for me. But it has been a very important experience for me at the same time because next time I will maybe do things differently.

"It was very important to me to play for my country, that is everyone's dream when they are younger.

"The manager gave me a letter for the national coach saying that they did not want me to play unless I was okay and I felt fine and was looking forward to playing for Hibs again.

"After that game for Morocco I felt very good but maybe three or four days after that I felt bad and I had to stop again."

Benji could be in contention for an SPL appearance this weekend, against Gretna at Fir Park.

Tell us what you think of this news on the www.Hibernian-Mad.co.uk message board, at the link below.

http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/mboard/loadboard.asp