Football: Capacity crowdto welcome Sauzee.
HIBS have been handed a massive boost ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Cup clash against AEK Athens with captain Franck Sauzee set to return for an expected sell-out tie.Easter Road boss Alex McLeish asked the fans to turn out in numbers, stating they could be the difference as Hibs try to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
And it seems that call has been answered, with a capacity 17,500 crowd set to fill Easter Road for the first time since the new West Stand was erected in the summer.
And there was further good news for McLeish yesterday, with skipper Sauzee coming through a team training session unscathed.
The 35-year-old former Marseilles defender missed the first leg due to a thigh injury and was also absent from the 4-1 win over St Johnstone on Sunday.
Last night McLeish said: "Franck trained today and he was very positive afterwards.
"He was talking very confidently and it would be great if he makes it."And McLeish again repeated his assertion that the fans could play a huge part in rattling Fernando Santos' side.
He said: "I'm delighted with the response and I really feel they can help win it for us."
Hibs will have Gary Smith missing, while AEK themselves have injury problems, with midfielder Akis Zikos carried off with an injury on Sunday.
Christos Maladenis is also fighting a hamstring strain.
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RETURN: Sauzee
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Sep 26, 2001 |
| Words: | 233 |
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