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Hibs aiming to strengthen squad
Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen
Paatelainen is on the look-out for new player

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen insists he is busy searching for new recruits despite a lack of transfer activity.

"We are working hard to strengthen the side, but we need to be 100% sure the players arriving at Easter Road are the right ones," he told BBC Sport.

"I feel we need to strengthen in all departments if we want to be more competitive for next season."

Fabian Yantorno continues to train with the Edinburgh side, while Joe Keenan has impressed during a trial period.

Keenan, a 25-year-old left-back, who began his career at Chelsea, was playing in Australia last season.

The defender, who also had a spell in Holland with Willem II, struggled to hold down a place at Melbourne Victory.

Fabian's an exciting player and hopefully he'll get to full fitness and play for Hibs
Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen

But Paatelainen said: "Joe has done very well, he has great levels of fitness and is very enthusiastic. It's looking positive."

Former Gretna midfielder Yantorno was offered the chance to prove his fitness at Hibs after sustaining knee ligament damage in January.

The 25-year-old Uruguayan has been using the facilities at Hibs since April and has been working hard on his rehabilitation over the summer.

"He is doing fantastically and improving well," said Paatelainen.

"In a couple of weeks, he should be able to join in with full sessions.

"He will be looking forward to that since it's been a long spring for him.

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"He's an exciting player and hopefully he'll get to full fitness and play for Hibs."

Paatelainen snapped up defender David van Zanten under freedom of contract from St Mirren but has lost the services of midfield playmaker Guillaume Beuzelin, who left to join Coventry City.

Dermot McCaffrey, Keegan Ayre, Abderaouf Zarabi, Patrick Noubissie and Mickael Antoine-Curier have also moved on.

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1 Alexey  
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When I first flirted with Serie A, I had a soft spot for Genoa, spmily because of Tomas Skuhravy (hat-trick of headers and all that). However, when I moved to Italy in the early-2000 s, I didn't really support anyone. At the school I worked at though, everybody and their dog was a Milan supporter. Not surprising when the clientele of the school were taken into account!It drove me up the wall, listening to the constant cussing of Inter, who I had seen on TV a couple of times whilst in Italy. I was taking a shine to them. Under my apartment was an Inter bar, where I used to stop off every morning. The bar owner invited me along to watch a game at the bar one afternoon, and from there on in, that was it. Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic they just epitomised the type of football I loved to watch. Gees, even with Oba Martins in attack missing a barn door by light years, they were good to watch. And disliked too. They fitted how I felt at the time in that respect, too!That was it. Seven years, three season tickets, countless games and a stash of silverware and scudettos later, I am still a big fan and always will be. Forget about Rafa; he's the past. We've had worst experiences than his time in charge. And do read up on the history of the club too If that hasn't convinced you, I suggest buying Calcio' by John Foot. Read uop on the history of the game there and then adopt a team. Or just pick Reggiana, based on the fact Franz Carr played six games for them in the mid-1990 s

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